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Firefighters battle Chinatown store fire in excessive heat
Chicago firefighters worked on a fire at a market in Chinatown amid extreme heat this morning. Crews remained on scene most of the morning. Putting the blaze out took extra help as the concrete building had little ventilation, officials said.
CHICAGO - Chicago Fire Department crews extinguished a blaze at a supermarket in Chinatown Wednesday morning.
Park To Shop Supermarket, located at 2121 South Archer Avenue, caught fire sometime before 5 a.m.
The store is next to the public library, which is a designated cooling center during the excessive heat.
Fire officials bumped up the response to a 2-11 alarm, sending in additional resources.
They cited several factors, the heat, the proximity to the public library and the unusual structure of the store. One firefighter said he has never seen anything like it, a concrete dome for a roof. They had to bring out heavy equipment to break through the concrete and rebar supports to get to the fire source.
Responders could not go in through the front doors because the concrete absorbed all the heat, turning the dome structure into what he called "a pizza oven."
Park To Shop has been a convenient place to buy groceries for many years.
Eleventh Ward Alderperson Nicole Lee said it was the only walkable grocery store in the neighborhood, which was a reliable convenience for area seniors and residents who do not drive.
Firefighters working under extreme heat conditions are required to take frequent breaks to sit in the shade and hydrate.
Archer Avenue was closed between Clark and Cermak as crews began to rehab the building.
The fire was eventually stuck out just before 7 a.m.
No injuries have been reported.