Second City Offices Destroyed In Extra-Alarm Fire In Old Town
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Offices for the Second City comedy troupe have been destroyed and three people have been injured in an extra alarm fire next door to the theater in Old Town.
The fire started shortly before 1 p.m. at 218 W. North Av., which is the Piper's Alley shopping center. Second City has at least one stage in that building. Second City's main stage is next door to Piper's Alley.
Fire officials said the fire started in the Adobo Grill restaurant inside Piper's Alley. The fire was raised to a 3-11 alarm by 2:30 p.m., as firefighters battled flames shooting through the roof. Heavy smoke was pouring from a tower on the east side of the building. The fire was struck out shortly before 4 p.m.
Four firefighters and a manager at the Adobo Grill were injured. They all had non-life threatening injuries.
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Part of the roof of the building which houses offices for Second City collapsed and fire officials say the offices have been destroyed. The stages for Second City were not affected by the fire. The lobby and some other areas sustained water damage but the theatre area is in good shape.
Mick Napier is a director at Second City. He says Second City CEO Andrew Alexander had some memorabilia in his office.
"Andrew Alexander collected a lot of things over the years. There were keepsakes in his office, one of a kind things, gifts like maybe John Belushi or Chris Farley had given him over the years."
As the fire raged, a longtime Chicago couple watched sadly.
"Second City is Old Town and Old Town is Second City," said Roger Sippey. "It is very important that they save everything that they can from it."
"I know if Bill Murray were here right now he would be crying," said Janet Sippey.
Tyler Alexander of Second City says more than 100 had to be evacuated. Alexander says the original artwork and comedy scripts the Chicago institution is known for are kept safely off-site.
All Second City shows and classes for Wednesday evening have been cancelled.
