Lincoln Fire Chief Aaron Ty Johnson offers details from Thursday fire on Sangamon Street

 

[September 06, 2024] 

Date: September 5, 2024
Location: 127 ½ South Sangamon Street Incident number: 24-1931

On Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 08:03 a.m., Lincoln Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at 127 ½ South Sangamon Street. All off duty firefighters, as well as Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District, Lincoln Police Department, and Logan County Paramedics Association were also dispatched within minutes.

Upon our arrival, Lincoln Fire Department was told that everyone was out of the building. Lincoln Fire Department, along with Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District made entry to the second floor where they found fire and moderate smoke. A primary search was made at the same time that fire was being extinguished with a 1 ¾” handline.

Atlanta Fire Protection District, along with Mt. Pulaski Fire Protection District, was also requested to the scene. Fire crews then encountered fire in the ceiling area and began to open the ceiling in effort to extinguish the fire. Lincoln Truck 5103 opened a ventilation hole in the roof to assist with gaining access to the fire.

Due to the difficulties gaining access to the fire, along with the construction and age of the buildings, additional resources from multiple agencies were called to assist with setting up a sustainable water supply and elevated master stream devices in the event of a defensive fire attack. Water supply operations were set up at three different locations to utilize water shuttles/drop tanks and relay pumping to the truck companies. Four truck companies set up along the entire block of 100 South Sangamon, along with a fifth set up in the 300 block of Pulaski Street.

After approximately one-and-one half hours (09:24 a.m.) of interior fire attack with multiple handlines, crews were ordered to evacuate the structure. A defensive fire attack began using the truck companies elevated master stream devices on the fire building(s). Interior firefighting operations were positioned on the second and third floors of the adjacent structure in an effort to contain the fire in the original building and stop the spread of fire to the remaining buildings on the block. Conservative estimates indicate that approximately 3,000 to 4,000 gallons per minute of water were flowing for approximately six hours.

Thermal imaging was provided by use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (operated by Logan County Emergency Management) to assist with the directing of master stream devices to areas of heat and fire, as visibility was extremely poor due to smoke. Union Pacific railway was stopped for approximately one hour due to smoke conditions.

The fire was under control at 15:31 (3:31 p.m.), yet crews remained on scene through the night. The fire scene was then transferred the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Springfield Office along with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to assist in determining the cause and origin of the fire.

During the course of operations, two members of the Lincoln Fire Department sustained minor injuries. One firefighter was treated on scene by Logan County Paramedics Association. One firefighter was transported to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital for observation and was later released.

Thank you to the following agencies for your assistance on the scene:

Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District,
Armington Fire Department,
Logan County Paramedics Association,
Atlanta Fire Protection District,
Beason Fire Protection District,
Elkhart Fire Protection District,
Emden Fire Protection District,
Hartsburg Fire Protection District,
Latham Fire Protection District,
Logan County Sheriff’s Dept (E.M.A.),
Middletown Fire Protection District,
Mt Pulaski Fire Protection District,
New Holland Fire Protection District,
Sangamon County Rescue Squad,
Warrensburg Fire Protection District,
Hickory Point Fire Protection District,
Athens Fire Protection District,
Riverton Fire Protection District,
Sherman Fire Protection District,
Decatur Fire Department,
Williamsville Fire Protection District,
Buffalo Fire Protection District,
Mechanicsburg Fire Protection District,
Ameren, IL-American water,
Lincoln Police Department,
City of Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch,
Lincoln Office of Building and Safety,
Salvation Army,
Lincoln Street Department,
ATF Springfield Office, IL
Office of The State Fire Marshal,
and Logan County Dispatch.

Agencies that assisted in other areas include: Clinton Fire Department, South Wheatland Fire Protection District, and Bloomington Township Fire Protection District.

“I would like to thank the citizens of the city of Lincoln for all of their support. The community response was overwhelming. There was not a single incident of anyone hampering the efforts of the emergency crews. Spectators respectfully followed all orders and stayed a safe distance away from the scene. The water and food graciously donated to the scene was so plentiful that I cannot possibly list the names of all of the citizens or businesses that selflessly donated their time, money, or staff to make this happen. Coolers that were left on scene can be picked up by their rightful owners at the Lincoln Fire Department starting September 9, 2024.”

Please contact the Fire Chief to claim your items.

Respectfully,
Aaron (Ty) Johnson, Fire Chief