Fire near Loyola today

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 14, 2011 at 10:05pm

i was at the scene. Very intense fire, very scarey. Could've been much worse.

Glad he landed safely. Any further word on casualties?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 15, 2011 at 7:39pm

My head is already working on conspiracy theories about this building, I hope it was truly an accident.

I used to live down the street, this area is gentrifying like crazy and Loyola really wants to get more buildings in that area.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 15, 2011 at 8:14pm

They do and they are, but no...
no conspiracies there.

Careless use of a candle.

Mike Zumwalt said:

My head is already working on conspiracy theories about this building, I hope it was truly an accident.

I used to live down the street, this area is gentrifying like crazy and Loyola really wants to get more buildings in that area.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 15, 2011 at 8:34pm

Mike,

 

Are you suggesting that Loyola University would commit arson to increase the amount of property they own?

Mike Zumwalt said:

My head is already working on conspiracy theories about this building, I hope it was truly an accident.

I used to live down the street, this area is gentrifying like crazy and Loyola really wants to get more buildings in that area.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on March 15, 2011 at 8:57pm

Assuming there's any truth to Mike Zumwalt's charges against Loyola University, can't Loyola just confess the following Sunday morning, say a few Hail Marys, and be absolved of any guilt?

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Permalink Reply by Davo on March 16, 2011 at 9:42am

if its done in the name of god then there is no guilt. So no need to confess.

Also didn't things like this happen on the Chicago Code? Granted that was due to "faulty wireing". Coincidence or not you decide.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 18, 2011 at 7:11pm

I'm doing an experiment in the name of science.

A candle just randomly falling of a book shelf then rolling under a couch where the flame is enough to set an entire 4 story building made of concrete on fire.

 

It could be tenant being evicted,hmmm what apt. did this start in?

 

Coincidently right next to Loyola dorms and next to a parking lot.

 

Just sayin'

 

If Chicago wants to burn out residents to displace them in the name of development take a look at Detroit, that worked great.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 18, 2011 at 7:14pm

With a "donation" large enough anything is absolved.

H3N3 said:

Assuming there's any truth to Mike Zumwalt's charges against Loyola University, can't Loyola just confess the following Sunday morning, say a few Hail Marys, and be absolved of any guilt?

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 19, 2011 at 11:43am

Okay, a few things...

The building in question is old, possibly pre-1920's. Yes, the exterior is brick, but the interior is largely wood (wall studs, window frames, doors, the roof is wood, and i believe the floors as well.) Old dry wood is excellent fuel. Carpeting, furniture, cabinets, etc. are flammable. When i got there, the window frames and curtains were engulfed and belching fire, as was the rest of the interior of the apartment (i believe the term is "flashed over") and the apartment floor and window frames above were becoming involved. If you've never have experienced a fire, or seen one flash over, or seen its aftermath, you probably have no idea how incredibly destructive and consuming they are. To me it is a miracle that anyone near that unit escaped, and it is very fortunate that the event occurred mid-morning and not mid-night.

 Candles are a major cause of home fires. Unattended, they can melt down or topple and generally cause havoc any number of ways. i have banished them in my house after my daughter had a near accident in her room. i also know that Loyola -and most if not all colleges- ban them from the dorms, usually along with heavy fine accessments, for those very good reasons. Also many apartment leases now specifically ban candles.

 It was also mentioned that the tennant in question had a history of kitchen fires. That may even be true. Easy to do, kitchen fires, even with an electric cooktop. i've seen and worked in kitchens that were burned because someone forgot a pot of boiling water, or left a potholder too close to a burner, etc. All one needs to do is put a kettle on and go doze off awhile.

 Also, in such an old building, it is likely that the individual units were underwired by contemporary standards (can't say for sure in this building, but in my experience this is often the case.) In the 20's, folks didn't have microwaves, TVs, computers, etc. and i've seen first hand how casual and careless people are with things like extension cords and such.

 i could rant on, but basically your speculation concerning possible conspiracies, land grabs, creeping gentrification, etc, is irresponsible poppycock. There was a fire. It occurred in an old building that happens to be in the neighbourhood that adjoins a large university. People were hurt, nearly killed. It could've been worse.

Say what you will, but the neighbourhood between Grandville and Sheridan east of the tracks NEEDS gentrifying, be it from buyouts by Loyola, some billionaire developer, or the city declaring eminent domain and plowing it under. BUT the intimations that there is some Reichstag Fire kind of plot are risible if not outright nuts.

 

End of rant. Peace. Out.

Mike Zumwalt said:

I'm doing an experiment in the name of science.

A candle just randomly falling of a book shelf then rolling under a couch where the flame is enough to set an entire 4 story building made of concrete on fire.

 

It could be tenant being evicted,hmmm what apt. did this start in?

 

Coincidently right next to Loyola dorms and next to a parking lot.

 

Just sayin'

 

If Chicago wants to burn out residents to displace them in the name of development take a look at Detroit, that worked great.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 19, 2011 at 10:04pm

L

 

Yep what we need is billionaire buying up and redeveloping property so it can be a studio apt. for 500,000 Lincoln Park is gentrified it's also overpriced and becoming unaffordable.

 

Eminent domain, hmmm I wonder what happened to that community garden by the Loyola "el" stop planned after tearing down buildings?

 

Poppycock maybe but if the tenant has a history of being a dumbass leaving stoves on , candles...why would you let them live in a timber box endangering the lives of everyone around them?

 

Let me go start a fire then go to sleep! WTF! Stay away from me like 10 miles away.

 

If you're so tired to cook and stay awake get a McD's budget meal, Little Ceasers $5 dollar pizza or just pay attention to what your doing and don't leave candles burning or stove tops unattended.

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