VIDEO: Warehouse fire on Rockwell Street near Barry Avenue between Elston Avenue and Belmont Avenue (VIDEO CREDIT: Steve Reddick).
Chicago firefighters responded about 7:45 p.m. Monday to a report of a warehouse fire at 3057 Rockwell Street, just south of Belmont Avenue and north of Elson Avenue, and near the North Branch of the Chicago RIver. Chicago Fire Engine 106 reported they were on the scene with smoke showing at about 7:47 p.m.
Chicago Fire Department’s Battalion Chief 7 reported smoke showing from a three story factory-style warehouse with a truss roof with firefighters attempting to make entry at about 7:48 a.m.
Battalion 7 called for a Still and Box Alarm by 7:50 p.m. At about 7:58 p.m. firefighters switched to a defensive attack with all firefighters out of the building for a fire progressing through the second floor.
The fire response was elevated to a 2-11 alarm at 8:05 p.m. The building defined as a 3-story warehouse, 50 feet by 150 feet. Firefighters were smashing glass block windows and raising tower ladders with elevated master streams around the building by about 8:06 p.m.
Firefighters connected a 4-inch hose line to the sprinkler system of the building, which seemed to be helping fight the fire by about 8:27 p.m.
Firefighters had to contend with a flaming gas line and a wall collapse while fighting the warehouse fire.
Firefighters got the fire under control using two tower ladder trucks, two snorkel trucks, and a point advantage line on the ground. The 2-11 alarm fire was struck out at 9:51 p.m.
In May 2015, DNAfino.com reported that Paul Levy, the developer of the Bridgeport Art Center, was remodeling buildings at 3057 North Rockwell Street for multiple large spaces for tenants. Metropolis Roasting Garage, owned by Metropolis Coffee Company, lists the business location as a wholesale coffee-related business for cafe, bakery, restaurant or office locations. The company provides roasted coffee, tea, coffee brewing equipment, training and consulting. DNAinfo reported in May 2015 that there would be three roasters inside the building, which could roast 120 kilos of coffee beans every 15 minutes.
The fire was actually contained to a portion of the complex that was not yet developed. Although Metropolis Roasting Garage is closed because of the fire and power is shut off in the neighborhood, the first tenant the coffee business is relatively unscathed in the extra alarm fire affecting the undeveloped parts of the complex.
MASSIVE WAREHOUSE FIRE: Chicago firefighters are still on the scene of a fire that destroyed a northwest side warehouse….
Posted by ABC 7 Chicago on Tuesday, December 22, 2015
BREAKING NEWS: A major warehouse fire on Chicago’s northwest side. We’re live as crews battle the flames at 10!
Posted by ABC 7 Chicago on Monday, December 21, 2015
STILL FRAME TIME-LAPSE: Wall collapse sequence at 3057 North Rockwell Street near Barry Avenue between Elston Avenue and Belmont Avenue in Chicago (VIDEO CREDIT: Steve Reddick).
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