Fire in new construction on Winnebago testament to City Code

While combustibles burned ravenously the fire walls contained the fire to one unit

Flames gutted a 3-story unit under construction at 1748 W. Winnebago in the middle of a multi building project during the early hours of Sunday. With no apparent damage to any other units, the required fire walls are a testament to Chicago's Fire Code. 

The Chicago Fire Department received a call at 4:44 a.m. and arrived on the scene four minutes later. The fire was struck about an hour later. The Blue Line between Western and Damen was shut down due to the proximity of the fire to the elevated track on the east side of the building. 

Building materials for the project were stored in this unit, said Michael Lerner, the developer, MCZ Development, giving the fire more combustible material to devour. While the 2,400 square foot unit was still open, the enclosure acted like a chimney, he commented. 

From the second building looking north

onsidering the lose by the Cubs in New York last night, Lerner has not had a great 24 hours, he said. However, in 25 years, this was his company's first fire. 

Scheduled to open in a couple of weeks, Lerner said that they should meet their scheduled opening of the first building, 1711 W. Winnebago. Each of the three buildings between Leavitt and Wabansia to The 606 (Bloomingdale Trail), have eight units, each with three floors plus a roof deck. 

The second building was scheduled to open the beginning of December but may be slightly delayed by the fire. A month later the third building will be opened. 

One step out of his home on Leavitt at about 5:30 in the morning, Dan Bell, who was taking his dog for a walk, saw all the fire equipment down the street. "I walked over to see what was going on but they kept me back down the street because the debris falling from high overhead." 

No one was hurt and Lerner said the rubble would be gone by later Sunday.