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Mall Explosion, fire in Waukegan, IL Suburb of Chicago
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by politisite | February 28, 2008 at 12:27 pm
7771 views | 33 Recommendations | 18 comments
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Mall Explosion, fire in Waukegan, IL Suburb of Chicago
A shopping Mall in Waukegan, Ill sufferred a mass explosion in a Chicago Suburb. There are several injuries but the number at this time is unknown. WBBM and WITI are providing live coverage at this time. The scene shows an imploded building and a mass area effected by the explosion including vehicles outside.
Update 4:01 Local: 9 people injured, 1 unaccounted for
Update: 2:10 local http://www.livenewscameras.com/ provides live views of news stations. Heres what to do. Once in the site go to to USA bar and chose A-Z then click on Chicago2 that is the link for MYFOX Chicago link. You will then see live video of the affected area
Update: 2:48 EST, 1:48 CST, 6 injuries reported and transported to area hospitals. One treated at the scene and released
WAUKEGAN, Ill. -- Firefighters from several departments are battling what appeared to be an explosion and fire at a shopping plaza early Thursday afternoon.
The fire is burning at 1926 Grand Ave. in the northern suburb, a shopping plaza home to Tuxedo World, Cleopatra's Unisex Hair Salon, Cellular Concepts and a travel agency. Authorities reported there are several injuries.
Reports of a structure collapse could not be confirmed.
Authorities have closed Grand Avenue between Martin and Lewis avenues, and crews from People's
Explosion, fire reported at Waukegan mall
An explosion blew out three adjacent stores in a business district in north suburban Waukegan at Grand and Lewis Avenues about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Emergency workers were on the scene.
Emergency crews from several Lake County suburbs were on the scene of the reported explosion and fire at the shopping mall in Waukegan.
The incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. at 1926 W. Grand Ave. in Waukegan, according to police and fire officials.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (18)
at 12:31 on February 28th, 2008
I think this is an important story and would benefit from other NowPublic contributors working on it. I've flagged it as News Wanted and invite others in relevant locations to look for more evidence.
at 12:33 on February 28th, 2008
politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.
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ryanat 12:36 on February 28th, 2008
politisite, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.
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ryanat 12:51 on February 28th, 2008
I just spoke to someone who works around the corner and they reported that the ground shook when the explosion occured. Currently, emergency crews are picking away at the debris.
at 12:54 on February 28th, 2008
Ryan, can they get a photo of the affected area? I can't tape of the satellite right now
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ryanat 12:56 on February 28th, 2008
They are working on it.
at 12:57 on February 28th, 2008
I am trying with a few sources
at 13:15 on February 28th, 2008
UPDATE | 2:06PM CST - Chicago Tribune calls it a 'gas explosion'
Source: chicagotribune.com
at 13:52 on February 28th, 2008
Here is a call for footage of the area. Please help power our story
at 13:54 on February 28th, 2008
I spoke to a worker at Alvarez Grand Slam restaurant about five blocks away, who said that they didn't feel the explosion. A man who answered the phone at the Vari-Op Co about the same distance away said he felt it, but not much, and that the whole area is closed off, with tons of police officers everywhere and helicopters flying overhead.
at 14:12 on February 28th, 2008
We were on the way to a business right down the road from the explosion when we chanced on it. The corner beyond where were were heading Waukegan Police were directing traffic onto the side streets, routing it past what looked to be a simple two car crash at the corner of Grand and Lewsi Avenues (where the 1900 block begins). Two vehicles were just sitting in the intersection, with fire department vehicles around them. You could not see the damage from where we were a short block and a half east. This was all at about 12:25.
My friend and I left the site, to go to lunch. On our way out we finally saw smoke and figured the cars or a nearby building had caught fire. When we returned 45 minutes later the cars were out of the intersection, replaced by onlookers kept back by yellow tape and cops and firefighters aplenty on the other side of it. The police were working to keep onlookers well back from the tape, threatening to arrest anyone who even crossed Lewis Avenue trying to get a better look at the destruction.
Last note - I am about 8 miles from the medical center where the injured were taken. If you want anything from there (pictures, interview, whatever) contact me immediately and I will do what I can.
Mik
at 15:56 on February 28th, 2008
Kudos Mikasi! Thank you for adding pictures to this Top Story. You are what makes NowPublic faster (at times) and better than the Main Stream Media. Thanks again for what you call a happen stance situation. I think you were made for this moment. LOL Great Job
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ryanat 16:03 on February 28th, 2008
Congrats Mikasi on selling your photos to the AP. They can be viewed here (# 6,7 in photo stream).
at 14:21 on February 28th, 2008
Great photos and eyewitness reporting, Mikasi. Kudos!
at 14:31 on February 28th, 2008
at 14:36 on February 28th, 2008
Excellent photos. A superb team effort.
at 16:13 on February 28th, 2008
politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Way to go, Mikasa and politisite! Great teamwork all around.
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Rob Petersat 20:13 on February 28th, 2008
The New York Times reports that four of the five people sent to hospital have been released.
Source: nytimes.com