Five Alarm Fire Ravages Avondale Warehouse

By Amy Cavanaugh in News on Sep 30, 2012 7:00PM

More than 200 firefighters and paramedics were called to the 2600 block of West Nelson Street early this morning to battle a five alarm fire. According to the Tribune, the fire started before 2 a.m. and "spread through the top three floors of the multi-use building and caused the north wall and some of the floors to collapse. The blaze also prompted a hazardous material response."

NBC Chicago reported that the structure was a mixed-use industrial building and that a large part of the building was a vacant warehouse.

Flames spread to all floors of the four-story, 400-foot by 400-foot warehouse, and heavy smoke was pouring from the building, according to Fire Media Affairs. By about 4 a.m., when the fire was at a 4-11 stage, fire was through the roof, as well.

The cause of the fire isn't clear, but firefighters finally extinguished it at 9:30 a.m. No one was injured.