Update: Some clarification from a reader: "I just walked over and spoke to a fire department commander. It wasn't the senior home OR the 6-flat. The senior home started their generator in between the two buildings for the first time in 5 years, and it malfunctioned. This would explain a loud bang (like a cherry bomb) we heard a few minutes earlier. There was no actual fire, and there is no real visible damage. ComEd is now on site also. It happened on Eastwood, across the street from the music school. No residents were displaced, it appears."
Update 2: Here's a video of the event.
Big smoke. from Joe Gray on Vimeo.
I live in the six flat next to the explosion. It wasn't from the six flat, but the high rise next door at Sheridan and Eastwood. The generator that supplies the high rise with power during outages exploded. It is in between my building and the high rise. At around 1:45 the lights flickered in our building, then we heard a explosion like gun fire. A few minutes later there was a ton of smoke out our window and you couldn't see anything. The generator was still running and spewing smoke. The fire dept responded very quickly with 5 trucks and a ton of people. It took them a long time to shut off the generator, so the smoke was coming out of it for a half hour or so. Now my entire place is filled with nasty diesel smoke and we got the windows open. Nothing to major though I guess.
ReplyDeleteThat's why it is recommended that you test run your generator once a week for 30 minutes. To avoid such issues.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear no one was hurt and everyone is safe and sound!
ReplyDeleteDamn you to hell for this Helen Shiller.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, no fish were harmed.
Don't worry. It is a non-profit building that can dip into the TIF funds and aldermanic menu to cover their mis-managed losses.
ReplyDeleteVideo of the generator fire:
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/9605648
Not much to see, but it fit procedure: Hear bang. Dial 911. Grab camera.
Off topic but in a couple hours we can celebrate that we will be voting the No talent joke of an Alderman out of office in 1 YEAR!!!
ReplyDeletePlease run again Helen. I changed my mind. I would much rather see you voted out than retire.
I hear yah EYE......if she 'retires', it's with an un-godly sum. I do hope she runs again, bless her heart.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of flyers distributed at Wilson Yards would be the equivalent of a demolished rain forest.
Also, I've heard that generator on a couple times before. No way it was turned on for the first time in 5 years. That things is loud as hell can't miss it,
ReplyDelete