Cicero firefighters firefighters responded about 6:00 p.m. Tuesday to a warehouse/factory fire at 1600 54th Avenue. By 6:15 p.m. fire command called for a box alarm which brought mutual aid fire department from neighboring communities. The firefighter response was elevated through the night.
A second alarm was activated at 6:26 p.m., a third alarm was activated at 6:44 p.m., and a fourth alarm was activated at 6:52 p.m. Firefighters from Berwyn, Bedford ParkBroadview, Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Forest View, LaGrange Park, Lyons, North Riverside, River Forest, Stickney
A Strike Force Interdivisional Box was activated at 8:27 p.m. The Strike Force box alarm brought firefighters from Bensenville, Melrose Park and Norwood Park with fire engines; and Northlake, Bellwood, and Hillside with ladder trucks.
Some special alarms were also activated. Chicago Fire Department Hose Wagon6-1-2 and Engine 26 connected to a Chicago fire hydrant at 54th Street and Roosevelt to supply water a 3,000-foot line.
Firefighters were rotated every 15 minutes because of the extreme cold weather.
The building of a neighboring business — Central Steel Fabricators — caught fire as cardboard containers ignited, probably from the heat of the building next-door. A third building was also at risk.
Freezing conditions affected firefighter performance and equipment performance. The extreme cold also caused slippery conditions.
The fire re-kindled about 4:00 a.m. and was elevated back to a Second Alarm or 2-11 after having been struck out at about 1:14 a.m.
Cicero firefighters and mutual aid firefighters also responded to an apartment fire just before 4:00 a.m. at 1410 50th Court in Cicero. The apartment fire was elevated to a 2-11 or second alarm fire broke through the roof
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