Fire guts century-old South Loop firehouse converted into restaurant

Chicago firefighters were tasked with an emotional assignment in the South Loop on Wednesday: Trying to save a historic former fire station from being destroyed in an extra-alarm fire.

Its a little heartbreaking, said Deputy District Chief John Shehan, who was on the scene Wednesday afternoon when the fire caved in the buildings roof. Its a shame.

The firehouse-turned-restaurant at 1401 S. Michigan Ave. has hosted a president, movie stars and served as one of former Mayor Daley's favorite eateries.

It is architecturally significant as well, according to Bonnie McDonald, president of Landmarks Illinois, who confirmed the building was designated as a landmark in 2003.

"It is a legitimate historic resource its a significant building that we believe can be rebuilt, said McDonald.

"I think whats wonderful is to see the outpouring of support from the firefighters themselves because many of them remember it being a firehouse its important for us to reuse this place as a landmark to firefighters, McDonald said.

Shehan remembers it because his father, a firefighter himself, used to take Shehan along on visits to the station in the early 1970s, where he could explore the building and play handball as a child.

The extra-alarm fire started by accident at about 10:20 a.m. while roofers were working on top of the building, according to CFD spokesman Juan Hernandez. The building was evacuated of construction workers and retaurant employees and everyone was out safely.The blaze was under control by about 12:15 p.m. after its roof collapsed.

Fire commissioner Jose Santiago used to work from the building when it housed firefighters, according to Hernandez. Once Santiago learned of the fire, "he focused all efforts on extinguishing it," Hernandez said. The building last served as a firehouse in the late 1990s, according to a CFD spokesman.

Hernandez said every effort was made to preserve the building, though since the roof had collapsed it would "take a lot of motivation to be rebuilt, and we hope that it is, because obviously it's a nice, iconic area."

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Fire guts century-old South Loop firehouse converted into restaurant