[BenReilly]

http://www.nbc5.com/news/3976109/det...94&dppid=65193

The first reports came in around 6:30 p.m. The Chicago Fire Department has classified the blaze as a 411 fire. Flames could be seen shooting from windows on an upper floor.

The building is the LaSalle National Bank Building, which is a 45-story building built in 1934 -- before sprinklers were required on every floor in high-rises.

There are reports of people inside the building. Witnesses saw people waving their hands out windows.

The Chicago 911 center told NBC5 it has reports of people on the 26th, 27th, 30th and 34th floors.

[Levante]

Originally Posted by BenReilly

http://www.nbc5.com/news/3976109/det...94&dppid=65193

I work right across from the Lasalle Bank Building and walked out of work right as it began.

There is going to be mandatory sprinklers now in pre-1975 buildings.

[La China Poblana]

CHICAGO -- A stubborn fire raged for 5 1/2 hours on the 29th floor of a historic downtown skyscraper, shooting flames from windows and sending at least 37 people to hospitals, most of them firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation. Some injuries were serious, but no deaths were reported.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...l=chi-news-hed

login: bigsoccer
pw: bigsoccer

[Coach_McGuirk]

And to think I was going to chastise everyone for something soccer related in an "NSR" area.

I saw a bit of this on the news.

Bad stuff.

In an unrelated note: Both Chicago and Dallas have NBC affiliates on Channel 5. Who'd have thunk it?

[Claymore]

How did they get a cow up on the 26th floor?

[bojendyk]

Originally Posted by Levante

There is going to be mandatory sprinklers now in pre-1975 buildings.

This is still extremely unlikely. There are more high rises in Chicago than you can count, and the cost of adding sprinkler systems can cost in the millions. Some friend of ours learned that, if sprinklers were added to their building--which is a fairly small high-rise--they would be faced with a special assessment of anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000, which would require refinancing the condo.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Originally Posted by Claymore

How did they get a cow up on the 26th floor?

Today's new leader for "Best Post of the Day"

[zverskiy yobar]

Originally Posted by bojendyk

This is still extremely unlikely. There are more high rises in Chicago than you can count, and the cost of adding sprinkler systems can cost in the millions. Some friend of ours learned that, if sprinklers were added to their building--which is a fairly small high-rise--they would be faced with a special assessment of anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000, which would require refinancing the condo.

Fox news had Ald. Bernard Stone on last night.From what he said it looks like not only is it going to pass, but it was likely going to be put through council within the next few weeks even before this happened.

He commented that the pre-75 sprinkler law would only affect commercial properties and not residential.

The Fire Dept. actually backs it with that stipulation.The reasoning is that residential high rises are in "a chamber" fashion.That is they are not wide open spaces like many commerical buildings.Residential high rises are much easier to contain then commercial high rise fires.For example last nights fire was exagerated by the fact that the floor it broke out own had cubilces.These things go up like you would not belive.

High rise residential fires on the other hand usually do not spread out of the original source area as quickly or as easily. a case in point is the high rise public housing.They have no sprinklers and have a high rate of calls of fire.They very rarely spread outside the initial apartment and fatalities are low.. compared to house or low rise apartment fires.

[bojendyk]

Originally Posted by zverskiy yobar

Fox news had Ald. Bernard Stone on last night.From what he said it looks like not only is it going to pass, but it was likely going to be put through council within the next few weeks even before this happened.

He commented that the pre-75 sprinkler law would only affect commercial properties and not residential.

The Fire Dept. actually backs it with that stipulation.The reasoning is that residential high rises are in "a chamber" fashion.That is they are not wide open spaces like many commerical buildings.Residential high rises are much easier to contain then commercial high rise fires.For example last nights fire was exagerated by the fact that the floor it broke out own had cubilces.These things go up like you would not belive.

High rise residential fires on the other hand usually do not spread out of the original source area as quickly or as easily. a case in point is the high rise public housing.They have no sprinklers and have a high rate of calls of fire.They very rarely spread outside the initial apartment and fatalities are low.. compared to house or low rise apartment fires.

That's interesting to hear (and a relief--we live in a high rise in Hyde Park). We did hear talk about installation of sprinklers in residential areas, but that was apparently a different debate.

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by Levante

I work right across from the Lasalle Bank Building and walked out of work right as it began.

There is going to be mandatory sprinklers now in pre-1975 buildings.

I'm stunned to learn that it wasn't already mandatory to retro-fit old buildings.