Fires & Explosions

A fire in a parking garage in Chicago’s River North neighborhood on Saturday, December 29th left one person dead and four others injured who are reported in critical condition. Flames and heavy black smoke captured on cell phone video surrounded the area and were shooting from the roof of the building at Hubbard Avenue and Orleans Street about 1:20 p.m. Smoke could be seen for blocks and the roof was charred from the fire. Investigators…

An explosion on the Metra train tracks on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, near the Grayland station has killed one worker and badly injured another. Two welders were working in the 4500 block of West Byron Street when the tragedy occurred, according to officials. The two men were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where one tragically died. There were reportedly 17 workers in the area repairing the tracks. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is…

News reports on the house in Homer Glen that exploded yesterday (Dec. 15, 2016) following an apparent Nicor gas leak show a residence that is completely destroyed. The father and daughter who lived in that home remain at Loyola Medical Center, and the entire Chicago area prays for their recovery. Homer Glen officials reportedly are allowing some of the nearly two dozen evacuated residents in a two-mile radius of that home to return to their…

Two family members were injured late Thursday afternoon when their house exploded in southwest suburban Homer Glen due to what officials on the scene are attributing to a gas leak. Neighbors reported the smell of gas outside before the house exploded at the intersection of South Parker Road and 143rd Street. People within a two-mile radius were asked to evacuate the area and were put up at the village’s Community Room. The Red Cross provided…

Robert A. Clifford, partner at Clifford Law Offices obtained an $18.5 million settlement on behalf of two workers who were severely injured in a flash fire during a derailment cleanup in Kentucky. The case was dismissed today in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County in Louisville, Kentucky. Belleville, Illinois residents Tony Carillo, 38, and Greg Powers, 28, both employees of RJ Corman Derailment Services of Nicholasville, Kentucky, were badly injured in a Level 3 haz-mat…

A fire broke out in an apartment on the 50th floor of the John Hancock Building Saturday afternoon (Nov. 21, 2015) on Michigan Avenue as thousands prepared to watch the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival that included a parade of 40 floats in anticipation of the holiday season. Five people were injured, most suffering smoke inhalation. Among the injured was a Chicago police officer. The apartment dweller where the fire broke out reportedly got out safely….

A garage explosion that rocked the far north suburban neighborhood of Mundelein has reportedly left one person killed and another injured, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Fire officials responded to numerous calls from residents in the area of the 900 block of Killanary Pass Drive at about 11:30 a.m. Friday (Jan. 2, 2015). Fire officials reported that the explosion started in the garage behind the house and fire quickly spread to the…

Five teenagers reportedly were injured this morning (Wednesday, 2/19/14) following an explosion at Northside College Prep High School in the 5500 block of Kedzie Avenue, according to ABC­7 News in Chicago. Four teens were taken to area hospitals where early reports indicate that one student suffered facial burns. One student is in serious to critical condition, two are in fair condition and one is in good condition, fire officials reported to the press. A fifth student declined treatment. Chicago firemen reported to ABC­7 that at least one student suffered facial burns. Another was burned on both arms, according to media reports. Apparently a single ­burner stove overheated hot chocolate that exploded, according to media reports. The Chicago Sun­-Times reported that the gas burner ignited, sending flames to the ceiling. The explosion was so loud that it could be heard in the next classroom and students began running out of the room, ABC­7 reported from witnesses. School sprinklers went off to help douse the…

Four students reportedly were injured in an explosion during a cooking class at Northside Prep High School on Chicago’s North Side. Students reportedly were heating hot chocolate in a lab Wednesday (2/19/14) morning when the explosion occurred. One student was taken to Masonic Medical Center with injuries that were reported to be non-life-threatening. Two other students were taken in fair to serious condition to Swedish Covenant Hospital and a fourth student was taken there in…