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Photos By Tim Olk

In mid-2004, at approximately 2145 HRS, Glenview, Ill., firefighters responded to the Reds Auto Body for a report of a structure fire in the body shop. The first units on scene witnessed heavy smoke from the roof. Engine 6 tried to advance a line into the garage, but had to back out because of the heavy fire in the bowstring truss roof.

Within seconds fire was shooting out all the skylights, so command requested a third alarm and later a fifth alarm. Firefighters set up several trucks, master streams and handlines to try to save the lumberyard to the north of this building. Firefighters from the following departments responded to the blaze: Northbrook, Wilmette, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka, Wheeling, Evanston, Deerfield, Glencoe, Mount Prospect, Morton Grove, Northmaine, Niles, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights, Lincolnwood, Park Ridge, Metro and Canteen. Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the fire and through the next day to fight hot spots.