I came back to my friends' condo after the MU loss last night to hear a ton of sirens heading toward me from all different directions. All I had to do was step out on the balcony to see billowing smoke about 3 blocks from me. Threw the shoes back on and went to check it out... never imagined that it'd be a huge gathering of emergency services! Here are some iPhone pictures and my micro-blog of the event via Twitter (
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watching and listening CFD go to town on a burning building. Chicago & Wolcott.- lots of glass being smashed. 2 ladder trucks. Another line into bldg.
- ferverishly pulling more line into building. Looky-loos building. Can hear firemen giving updates over radio.
- Lots of updates about location in bldg over 2 way. More firemen going in.
- 4 story bldg. H&R block at ground.
- Lots of shit being thrown out of bldg. Heard over 2 way, "no fire here. Further investigate."
Lots more window smashing. CFD don't play. Pumper trucks still pumping.- Fire coming up from first to second floor (overheard)
- Longest non-truck ladder ever raised from ground to third floor now.
- More sirens approaching. Hmmmm. Gurney waiting at entrance of bldg.
- 8 trucks that I can see. 3 ambulances. Countless support vehicles.
- More first floor glass pummeled. More sirens approaching
- Female EMS-PIC Murphy using hose leak to wet towels.
- (radio) we're gonna bring her out the front door
- Big time smoke from first floor adjacent bldg. More sirens approaching.
- Another gurney. And the sound of power tools.
- Smoke turning from white to black. Glass getting smashed over and over.
- Master use of pole axe only before seen in Diablo video game.
- Firefighters yelling, "anyone live in this bldg?" girl next to me says YA
Hugging and crying happening behind me. "I was dead asleep in there and barely got down stairs"- Overheard: "I'm glad your alive"/ "thank you!"
- Overheard: I was a little bit awake and burned incense earlier and I looked out my window to see flames (cough) and holy fuck!
- Another line going in. 2 fighters coming out with oxygen tanks ringing. Expired.
- Real American heroes walking out of bldg and declining wet towels.
- Real American heroes getting new oxygen tanks and going back in.
- Guy on phone behind me: my car is parked right in the middle of the action.
- Holy crap. Just looked around. At least 30 vehicles here now.
- Overheard smoke so thick nine blocks away (bar: happy village?) that they closed.
- Overheard: they brought a girl out. No idea on status.
- Last microblog. When these guys come out someone else pours them some Gatorade. Props to the CFD.
