Chicago Fire Department history – Five Chicago Firefighters Die at Reliance Hotel Fire, 12-17-53

It was a bitterly cold Chicago morning, just after 2:30 a.m., when the alarm bells rang out on December 17, 1953. A fire had broken out at the Reliance Hotel on West Madison Street, a three-story building undergoing renovations but still very much in operation. As firefighters scrambled to the scene, they found themselves facing an inferno that quickly spiraled out of control, prompting three alarms and bringing in over 100 firefighters to battle the flames. The hotel manager, waking up to the acrid smell of smoke, rushed downstairs to alert the authorities while simultaneously warning the guests. Around the same time, a police patrol officer reported the incident. Incredibly, 75 of the hotel's residents were safely evacuated, with only one individual failing to escape unscathed—a 45-year-old man believed to have deliberately started the fire. Authorities later discovered a note in his pocket, revealing not only his involvement in this blaze but also confessing to multiple other criminal acts, including setting fires in 12 different apartment buildings. As firefighters fought valiantly against the raging inferno, disaster struck without warning at approximately 3:49 a.m. Without any prior indication, the entire front facade of the building collapsed. Some of the firefighters on the roof managed to leap off and survive the collapse, describing the experience as akin to "sliding down a chute." Tragically, those working inside the structure weren't so fortunate. Dozens of firefighters were now reported missing amidst the rubble. In freezing temperatures, ice-covered firefighters worked tirelessly for six grueling hours, sifting through the debris with bare hands and tools. Simultaneously, other teams continued their efforts to extinguish the blaze, which finally came under control around 4:30 a.m. Once the immediate danger subsided, rescue operations intensified as crews worked to locate and save any trapped or injured firefighters. Despite the subzero conditions, these brave individuals dug relentlessly, risking further collapses to reach their fellow team members. The Chicago Daily News later reported that at the peak of the rescue effort, every single available resuscitator from the city’s police and fire departments was deployed at the site. The Salvation Army and Red Cross stepped in to provide essential support, offering food, hot drinks, and shelter to both displaced hotel guests and exhausted firefighters alike. Tragedy struck early on when the first victim was identified—Robert Jordan of Truck Company 2. His wife, Edyth Jordan, arrived at the scene carrying a newspaper photograph of him taken during another firefighting mission. Unaware of his fate, she clung to hope until receiving devastating news that he had succumbed to his injuries sustained in the collapse. Hours later, the bodies of George Malik and John Jarose, both from Engine Company 31, were retrieved from the wreckage. Miraculously, one of the trapped firefighters, Ray Nowicki, remained conscious despite being buried deep within the debris. While rescuers tried desperately to reach him, they communicated directly with Nowicki, reassuring him that help was on the way. Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Campbell administered pain relief via injection while Dr. Herman Bundesen ventured deep into the pile to deliver morphine to another trapped colleague, John Measner. Firefighters passed bricks hand over hand to gradually extricate Measner from the chaos. Lieutenant Theodore Patronski and nine others found themselves isolated in a narrow ten-foot-square cavity. After hours of shouting and waiting, they were eventually located when someone noticed Patronski's leg protruding from the debris. The search persisted for Captain Nicholas Schmidt of Engine Company 107 and Firefighter Robert Schaack of Truck 19. Their families held vigil, praying fervently for their safe return. Eventually, a crane was brought in to assist in clearing away the rubble, leading to the discovery of both Schmidt and Schaack’s remains. This harrowing event serves as a poignant reminder of the immense courage and sacrifice displayed by our firefighters every day. Special thanks go out to Drew for sharing this story.

Wood Fired Pizza Oven

Outdoor Portable Wood Fired Pizza Oven,12 Inch Wood Fired Pizza Oven,16 Inch Wood Fired Pizza Oven

Ningbo Yinzhou Weinuo Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. , https://www.gftopoven.com