VIDEO: Squad 5A snorkel operations and ladder operation by Tower 39 and Truck 18 on South Union Avenue in Chicago.
Chicago firefighters responded about 10:03 AM Saturday, July 13, 2013 to a house fire in the 4400 block of South Union Avenue to a report of a fire that started on the back porch of one house and spread to three more. Firefighters soon discovered that the rescue phase of their work was not required because of the work of 12-year-old Edwin Perez who woke up residents and helped evacuate up to 15 people before firefighters arrived. Chicago firefighters call the boy a hero, and Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Jose Santiago personally commended the boy at the scene after the fire was extinguished. No serious injuries were reported at the fire.
The fire quickly spread to a total of four closely-spaced two-story wood frame homes. The fire department response was elevated to a 2-11 at 10:09 AM and then a 3-11 at 10:36 AM with three extra ladder trucks called to the scene. The fire was fought with ten handlines and four master streams — large nozzles on ladder trucks or on the ground. The fire response was struck out at about 11:21 AM with firefighters working to cleanup and overhaul for several hours after the fire was extinguished. Three of the four homes were totally destroyed.
Edwin Perez first noticed the fire from his own kitchen, rescued people in his own house, and then rushed to rescue people from house were the fire was spreading. He credited his abilities in the rescue action Saturday to his fire safety instruction at his elementary school — Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School in the Canaryville neighborhood.
Chicago Fire Department Chicago Fire Media photos …
44th union four houses 211 pic.twitter.com/tcIP6bUGV1
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 13, 2013
pic.twitter.com/mRN1AHHUga
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 13, 2013
4421 4423 4425 4427. Union pic.twitter.com/SxNfCFUoq9
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) July 13, 2013
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
