FIREFIGHTERS SOUTH SIDE

These photos are predominantly in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago's South Side while riding with a variety of companies and Chiefs. This neighborhood is a large part of what is called "the ghetto". It is a very depressed area with high unemployment, crime and more than the usual amount of home fires.
99 files, last one added on Nov. 02, 2006

"Making the roof" at a working still alarm at 11128 S. Ave. "C" in Chicago; a 2 story ordinary, 25X30. Companies responding: E104; T61, 34, 17; 23rd, 24th Battalion Chiefs; TL 34, & RIT (rapid intervention team), Sq 5 (recalled).<br />
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Winter cold, slippery, still they are up there riding it like a rodeo bronco, "venting the roof", that is getting holes in it to release heat from this 2nd floor fire. "In firefighting, ventilation refers to the tactic of creating a draft with an opening above or opposite the entry point so that heat and smoke will be released, permitting the firefighters to find and attack the fire. If a large fire is not properly ventilated, not only will it be much harder to fight, but it could also build up enough poorly burned smoke to create a smoke explosion, or enough heat to create a flashover. Contrarily, poorly placed or timed ventilation may increase the fire's air supply, causing it to grow and spread rapidly."

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"Making the roof" at a working still alarm at 11128 S. Ave. "C" in Chicago; a 2 story ordinary, 25X30. Companies responding: E104; T61, 34, 17; 23rd, 24th Battalion Chiefs; TL 34, & RIT (rapid intervention team), Sq 5 (recalled).

Winter cold, slippery, still they are up there riding it like a rodeo bronco, "venting the roof", that is getting holes in it to release heat from this 2nd floor fire. "In firefighting, ventilation refers to the tactic of creating a draft with an opening above or opposite the entry point so that heat and smoke will be released, permitting the firefighters to find and attack the fire. If a large fire is not properly ventilated, not only will it be much harder to fight, but it could also build up enough poorly burned smoke to create a smoke explosion, or enough heat to create a flashover. Contrarily, poorly placed or timed ventilation may increase the fire's air supply, causing it to grow and spread rapidly."