Chicago Fire Department's Larry Langford on Kenwood high-rise fire

The spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department discusses the latest updates on the fire on WGN Midday News in the 11 a.m. hour.

[@soupwifey]

Our high rise apartment complex has fire suppression sprinklers and standpipes. We also have fire block doors. Our down the hall neighbors had a fire. The fire suppression sprinklers put out the fire before the fire department got here within 2 minutes. There was minimal damage to the apartment where the fire was. The people living there fell asleep while their dinner was cooking on the stove. All 4 burners were in use and all 4 pots and pans of food went up in flames. The sprinkler in the kitchen did its job amazingly well. There was a tiny bit of water damage that leaked into the hallway ceiling. The residents were able to move back in a few days after their kitchen cabinets were replaced because they had some some smoke damage.

[@TheCoolOwen]

This building didn’t have that. That’s the difference

[@kennymiles1481]

This is why I pay that extra $10/month for home insurance on top of my auto insurance. It covers 50k of damage. I hope this people got home insurance.

[@cheekscheeks5840]

Omg so sorry it’s scary being that high up and something like this happens. Praying for everyone ❤

[@cjlaity1]

The smoke won't remain vertical.

[@sandrasoares9262]

I'm sorry for for the loss of the people who lost their home. God bless the ones who passed away May you r.i.p. 🙏 Thanks to the fire 🚒 who helped the people 🙏 God bless and care.

[@robertbyington7715]

Where the hell are the sprinkler systems

[@TheCoolOwen]

Not required by City of Chicago. Chicago has lax building code regulations.

[@cheekscheeks5840]

I had a childhood friend that lived in that building 😮

[@gobbletegook]

And? I drive past it every week. Does that count?

[@marcushunter6008]

This guy on the phone is certain the fire won't spread horizontally. Telling people to shelter in place. What about the smoke?

[@hyun1141]

He said *certain* people were told to shelter in place, not all of them. It's a large building so people in units further away especially on lower floors will not see any smoke. But if everyone evacuated at once, the people who are really in danger could have less of a chance to get out, and the people who aren't in danger might end up putting themselves in a life threatening situation by trying to evacuate

[@bigblack4001]

Oh my God,that’s my old building… Although there will be damage,the building is solid… I pray everyone’s OK!

[@Uphillfreefall]

They don’t have long. Once it reaches the roof it will spread horizontally. And the composite exterior wall panels are probably flammable.

[@azul8811]

Looks to me that the windows failed and the fire is auto exposing. I would be very surprised if the fire would extend laterally along the exterior.

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

materials used on this column of the building? sub par?

[@pamelastevens5000]

What time was the first alarm sounded

[@loveforeignaccents]

How absolutely frightening!!! Wonder what started it.

[@ithunkit5729]

What was Miss O'Leary's cow doing up there

[@sonofman8262]

You telling me we don't have a type 1 helicopter in Chicago if the Aerial tower can't reach it ? I think the people of the building should be evacuated even if the fire going vertical because anything can happen you don't want them to be trapped

[@soupwifey]

😮 I thought that all high rises have fire suppression sprinklers. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@theliltwirp]

Nope, definitely not all. It depends which year they were built. I'm a Chicago resident. Anything built prior to 1975 usually doesn't have sprinklers. And there's over 600 residential highrises here that were built prior to 1975 that don't have fire protection....but the sad and scary part of the pre-1975 building code revision is that it wasn't written to be retroactive. So, every building under that earlier code wasn't required to be retrofitted with sprinklers post-1975 and they're still legally allowed to operate without sprinklers because they were built under the older building code.

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

because it can seem like some buildings are built up to be taken down, per se. it's like a thing that comes up a lot in construction. older buildings might be sub parrish...par-ish.

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

still, any maintenance over the years ..how repaired and how far in advance are things planned...30 years maybe? just guessing.

[@davidrogers6287]

All you people who are praying , why didn't you pray before the fire started ?

[@belindagreen5101]

They do have a sprinkler system. Not that it will do any good at this point

[@dianeplescia5565]

Worst case scenario happened, maybe? I'm sure there will be pros and cons on every firefighting situation.

[@khawmtiti4460]

Scary scene . Whoever set fire on this building need to be lock up

[@theliltwirp]

Umm.....I think the reports already stated that someone was careless with cigarettes or other smoking products. I'm pretty sure it wasn't arson

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

Kenwood...Kensington......philly's fentanyl business.cocaine,crack.what have you. word on street or livestreams on this subject matter

[@torcik]

Stop BBQing in the bathtub 🛀

[@gzmain78]

That's bogus. You would need a helicopter for this type stuff. I see a big lawsuit coming because of the sprinklers

[@byrongotcha]

No sprinklers typically in these buildings

[@azul8811]

What would you use a helicopter for?

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@byrongotcha there really should be

[@jorozco9160]

And how would a helicopter possibly help this situation?

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

The Harper...what a name in these prescient times. harper all over philadelphia. bryce harper phillies. number 3. tons of references, but will end it there.

[@bobdelano6746]

Mr Trump, and the rusians, fn around again ! Smfh

[@philadelphiawalksptsd]

it COULD seem..orchestrated, intelligent design-ish. everyone is orchestrated these days, even victims. ...rebuild to be expected? better living next time around maybe?

[@hyun1141]

@Draper Scott It's not misinformation as much as it's mental illness

[@torcik]

BURN BABY BURN. DISCO INFERNO

[@indigoldd]

lame. You're a grown man lol

[@ronaldmiears4554]

Crack heads started i bet that what this in the hood

[@bigblack4001]

I believe it was a senior who left something cooking(All units have gas stoves )… That’s my old building…A crackhead can’t afford that place, unless they are staying with family