Chicago fire today at Albany Park destroys Jojo’s Discount Warehouse building on Lawrence Ave on Whipple St

CHICAGO (WLS) – More than 100 firefighters worked to contain a fire that destroyed a business along Lawrence Ave on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire at Jojo’s Discount Warehouse, 3040 W. Lawrence, broke out at about 12 a.m. and completely destroyed the building, Chicago firefighters said.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said two customers and an employee were inside when they noticed the fire, but everyone was able to get out safely. There were no reports of injuries.

Langford said the fire caused the roof and the building was totally destroyed. The store sold a bit of everything, including mattresses, and officials said these various items had a lot of fuel for the fire.

Firefighters believe the fire started in a storage room on the 2nd floor, though the cause remains under investigation.

“It was contained in the one building, and we were concerned that it would jump into the other building right next door,” First Dist said. Chief Thomas Carbonneau, Chicago Fire Dept., “but what we did was we opened the ceiling in the other building with a camera, we made sure no heat came over so we could stop it there.”

The owner of the building was present, but declined to comment. Neighboring business owners, including the owner of a car dealership next door, watched nervously as the building burned down.

“I watched the fire,” said Eddie Zipperstein, owner of Richard’s Body Shop. “I’m like, I hope it does not jump over our building. The firefighters came to the top and were spraying to try to stop the fire.”

Last month, Chicago firefighters responded to three fires within three days at Albany Park. The first Fire destroys Twisted Hippo Brewpub, Ultimate Ninjas Gym and Apartment Building at Richmond and Montrose Avenue on February 21st.

A firefighter was injured in what became known as the “Second Fire” on February 22, which burned down a residential building under construction near Cullom and Spalding.

A third fire ripped through the abandoned house on Rock Church 10 weather forecast for Spaulding and Sunnyside.

Firefighters said Tuesday that there was nothing to suggest one of the fires was related.