A fire is raging this evening on the 29th floor of the historic LaSalle Bank Building at 135 S. LaSalle in downtown Chicago. Eighteen people including two firefighters have been injured. At this point no fatalities have been reported. It’s a three-alarm fire and a third of the city’s firefighting capability has been brought into play to battle the blaze.
The 43 story building was completed in 1934 and until the completion of 1 Prudential Plaza was considered the premiere office building in Chicago.
I saw that on the news. It’s kind of odd seeing a tragic event in a familiar place. From January to October, I was working just 3 buildings South of the LaSalle Bank Building – at the Federal Reserve – and walked past it each day. When I heard the news, the image of the building was very clear in my mind.
I’m glad no one was killed.