A warehouse fire sent thick smoke rolling across Chicago’s Lower West Side late Saturday morning, darkening the neighborhood skyline and slowing traffic nearby. The blaze was reported around 11:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of South Paulina Street near South Blue Island Avenue, where witnesses recorded video of the smoke as fire trucks and police vehicles converged on the area. Curious neighbors gathered at a distance while some drivers eased off the gas to take in the sight.
What officials reported
According to NBC Chicago, video posted on the Citizen app showed heavy smoke pouring from the warehouse as firefighters worked the scene. NBC reported that officials had not yet released further information, including whether anyone was hurt or what might have sparked the blaze.
Why smoke matters
Industrial warehouse fires can push thick smoke and tiny particles across nearby blocks, which can aggravate breathing problems, send strong odors into homes, and stall normal business operations. A recent example: a Lineage cold-storage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, burned for days and triggered air-quality advisories and shelter-in-place alerts, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
How neighbors can protect themselves
When smoke is visible or you can smell it, officials recommend staying inside with windows and doors closed, and cutting back on outdoor activity until the air clears. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises residents to check the Air Quality Index, and to use NIOSH-approved N95 respirators if you have to go outside in smoky conditions. Local AQI readings are available through AirNow and from the Illinois EPA.
Status
As of publication time, authorities had not announced a cause of the fire or reported any injuries, and crews were still actively working the scene, according to NBC Chicago. We will update this story as officials release more information.
