Heavy smoke filled the sky above Chicago's West Town neighborhood on Tuesday as over 200 firefighters confronted a ferocious blaze that had engulfed a pallet company warehouse. The fire at 2029 W. Hubbard St., which was reported around 5:45 p.m., escalated to a four-alarm severity by early evening, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Fueling the inferno were some 20,000 wooden pallets stored at the facility, which produced a towering plume of smoke visible for miles. Struggling against an aggressive fire stoked by high winds and the additional challenge of 90-degree temperatures, the firefighters tirelessly worked to contain the flames. "It's very warm out tonight, we had to switch guys up, rotate them to get them checked out," Chief Jim McDonough told Chicago Sun-Times.
The structure's location, intensified by the southward winds, experienced a roof collapse and prompted a hazmat declaration by 7:30 p.m., authorities noted. This move, precautionary in nature due to the undetermined risks posed by the burnt materials, kept responding crews on their toes, as police warned onlookers of the danger and the potential need for an evacuation should the winds shift, ABC 7 Chicago reported.
Onlookers Kim Richardson and Shannon Saar, astounded by the smoke's far-reaching impact, voiced their shock to ABC 7 Chicago: "We couldn't believe the smoke, and we saw pictures online of just like flames and everything like that. It was outrageous," said Richardson. "I had to roll up my windows. We could barely breathe." Wrapped in an overwhelming smell, the thick smoke hit them and was visible all the way from Edgewater, Saar added, "It's intense to just be around. You can it see for miles, literally," they expressed their experience.
Despite the volatile situation and two firefighters sustaining minor injuries, a larger crisis was averted as they managed to save adjacent buildings from the fire, which ultimately claimed the pallet company structure in its entirety. The CFD personnel prepared to carry through an overnight watch to tackle remaining hot spots, ensuring the scene was clear of hidden fires beneath the ruins of the collapsed roof. The CFD expected the majority of the blaze to be tamed by 9 p. m. that night, with ongoing investigations into the cause of the fire still active, ABC 7 Chicago communicated.
