McCook Box Alarm 4-27-13

At 7:50 PM on Saturday, April 27th, the McCook Fire Department was dispatched to a report of an explosion at a metal grinding company located at 4828 S. Lawndale. The first arriving units confirmed smoke coming from the A and D sides of the building at 7:54 PM and escalated the response to a full-blown fire. The fire was confined to the 125 x 325-foot single-story rear section of the complex, which included several additions that were not affected. By 8:12 PM, command called in MABAS Division 10 Box #14-01 after crews reported heavy smoke inside the structure. Several aerial ladder trucks were deployed to tackle the slow-burning fire, which had melted through parts of the fiberglass roof. Riverside Truck 1629 operated from the northeast corner of the building, within the fenced lot, and its aerial can be seen in several photos. Brookfield Truck 419 used an aerial from the southeast side and was set up on Lawndale Street. Bedford Park Truck 705 positioned a hose line from inside the complex on the south side. Pleasantview Truck 1519 operated a master stream from the northwest corner, stationed on Clyde Terrace. Tri-State Truck 529 was set up along Joliet Road but did not raise its aerial. Lyons Squad 1316 was active on the east side of the building, where most of the action took place. McCook Engine 1416 was also seen supplying water to Riverside’s truck and multiple handlines. The photos were taken about an hour into the incident.