Over the past few days, media outlets have been covering the aftermath of the massive 5-11 Alarm fire that broke out at 3757 S. Ashland Avenue on January 22nd. The fire, which reignited earlier this week, has been a major topic of discussion due to the unique firefighting methods employed by the Chicago Fire Department.
Fox32 recently aired a segment highlighting the use of the legendary deluge unit, affectionately nicknamed "Little Mo." This firefighting vehicle, an antique Mack truck from the late 1960s, is truly one of a kind. Equipped with two turret water guns and capable of handling up to ten hoses, Little Mo can pump a staggering 5,000 gallons of water per minute—far surpassing the capacity of modern engine trucks, which typically manage around 1,500 gallons per minute.
According to CFD Commander Dan Swift, Little Mo is the last surviving deluge unit of its kind. "Big John" and "Big Mo" were retired long ago, leaving Little Mo as the sole survivor. Despite its age, it remains a crucial tool in combating large-scale blazes like the one in Bridgeport. Firefighters decided to deploy Little Mo on Thursday after the fire flared up again, and so far, they’ve pumped over a million gallons of water onto the smoldering remains. That's enough water to fill a football-field-sized pool ten feet deep!
You can watch the full story, including footage of Little Mo in action, [here](#).
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reported on the fire's origins. Investigators have concluded that the fire, which devastated the nearly century-old warehouse, was likely started by an open flame, though it doesn't necessarily qualify as arson. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford explained that the cause appears to have been "open flame ignition of available combustibles," meaning something like a match or flame came into contact with flammable materials. While the building lacked gas or electrical services, previous incidents involving squatters using fire to stay warm had prompted calls to the fire department in the past.
Interestingly, records show that the warehouse owner, 3737 Ashland LLC (controlled by North Development), has ties to criminal activity. North Development's president, Calvin Boender, is currently serving time in federal prison for bribing former 29th Ward Alderman Isaac "Ike" Carothers. City officials had previously attempted to demolish the dangerous structure back in 2011, filing a lawsuit against the owners for neglecting maintenance and safety concerns. However, the owners eventually registered the building as vacant and addressed some of the code violations.
As firefighters continue to battle the remnants of the blaze, the community remains on edge, hoping for a swift resolution to this challenging situation.
Thanks to Chris for sharing these updates!
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