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Restaurant owner Robert Magiet delivered AC units to residents in Logan Square, Humboldt Park and other areas Tuesday and Wednesday as Chicago hit four days in a row with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. "This heat is ridiculous," he said.
Everything at the business — Commercial Pallet, 2029 W. Hubbard St., including inventory, machinery, equipment, vehicles — was 'a total loss,' in the fire, the owner's daughter said. Fire crews were rotated in and out to protect them from heat exhaustion.
The three-alarm — soon upgraded to a four-alarm — fire broke out about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at Commercial Pallet, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Crews were rotated out as high temperatures and humidity made the firefight more difficult.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the two most severe illnesses to watch for amid rising temperatures.