Fire In Hookah Bar Destroys Wrigleyville Building

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 26, 2013 2:35PM

Photo submitted by Jen Gillespie

Firefighters needed over 90 minutes to extinguish a 3-alarm fire in Wrigleyville Friday evening that started in a hookah bar and eventually destroyed the building at 3330 N. Clark St.

The fire started at Samah Hookah Bar and spread to Roadhouse, a bar located in the same building, just before 5 p.m. near the "L" tracks that intersect Roscoe Street. The fire didn't interfere with Red, Brown and Purple Line service but motor vehicle and bus traffic was re-routed.

No one was injured in the fire. A mayday was called shortly before 9 p.m. Friday night after part of the ceiling collapsed and trapped firefighters inside. The firefighters were able to escape.

Alex Negreti, executive chef at Blokes and Birds, told the Sun-Times "something blew up" as firefighters were trying to put out the fire. Lee Larkins,who works at a board shop across the street, told DNAInfo Chicago two firefighters "got the full whiff of" the backdraft but were pulled to safety.