Extra Alarm Blaze Spares Second City Stage, Archives Were Stored Off Site

Photos provided by CFD media of smoke and water damage to Second City offices.

Chicago firefighters remained on the scene late Wednesday afternoon dousing hot spots on the charred remains of the Second City offices.

Chicago Fire Media said the extra-alarm blaze that broke out around 1 p.m. at 1610-1612 No. Wells Street.

CFD spokesman Larry Langford told reporters the fire may have been sparked by a grease fire at Adobo Grill, which spread through the century-old building’s vents, past a fire suppression system and to the roof of the building.

While the offices were lost, the building housing the stage was spared. Performances were canceled for Wednesday evening.

A Second City spokesman told reporters that most of the comedy theater’s historic archives were stored off site, but some staffers’ personal memorabilia was lost in the fire.

“It has gutted our two levels of offices. But we’ll fix it. They advised us to close tonight but I suspect we will be open tomorrow. The theaters are fine,” Second City CEO and co-owner Andrew Alexander said.

WGN News reported that the theater building itself appeared to have little smoke or water damage.

Two firefighters were injured, but WGN said a third person was taken away from the scene. No word on the injured’s conditions.

Dramatic photos provided CFD Media showed significant smoke and water damage to the Second City’s sales and marketing department.

Original story -- The famous Second City comedy club in Old Town was evacuated and its offices destroyed when an adjacent building on the same block went up in flames Wednesday in an extra-alarm fire.

Chicago firefighters are still battling the blaze as of 2:30 p.m., now upgraded to a 2-11, and have blocked off the 1600 block of North Wells. DNAinfo Chicago reports the blaze started on the third floor and spread into the Second City offices, which were destroyed, according to fire department personnel on scene. An Adobo Grill is on the first floor.

Through 2 p.m., Chicago Fire Media was reporting that Second City’s theater was still safe from the fire.

Smoke billowed from the fire, enveloping the entire block in a dark cloud. The fire broke out at about 11 a.m., according to the Chicago Fire Department.

Second City shows and classes have been cancelled.

» more via DNAinfo Chicago