Bridgeport Warehouse Fire Reignites: Firefighters Still Battling Blaze At Iced-Over Building

Iced-Over Warehouse Reignites Nearly 2 Days After Blaze Began
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The massive blaze that destroyed a large warehouse on Chicago's South Side nearly two days ago has flared up again -- even after it became encased in ice, making for an incredibly dramatic scene.

According to ABC Chicago, the fire reignited just before 6 a.m. Thursday morning at the Bridgeport warehouse located at 3757 S. Ashland Ave., prompting firefighters to blast millions of gallons more of water that is further testing the stability of the building's severely damaged remains.

Fire officials told NBC Chicago they were already expecting what they have called a "significant rekindle" on account of the large amounts of timber stored inside the building and the collapse of the roof and various floors. Such movement creates hot spots that fire crews have not able to reach. The blaze has been contained within the ice-covered building, but fire officials still fear the building could collapse.

The blaze is so massive -- the largest the city has seen in nearly a decade -- that the force is deploying a "vintage" piece of equipment called the "Big Mo" which can deluge remaining hot spots with between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of water a minute.

After the five-alarm fire initially broke out just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, more than 200 of the city's firefighters were called to the scene. The blaze is the largest the city has experienced since a fire at the LaSalle Bank downtown headquarters on Dec. 6, 2004, according to DNAinfo.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Chicago Warehouse Fire Now An 'Ice Palace'
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(01 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters work to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of18)
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Firefighters pour water on the smoldering remains of a warehouse in Chicago Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, after an overnight fire destroyed the building. Officials say it's one of the largest fires in the city in recent years. More than 170 firefighters responded to the five-alarm blaze that started at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(03 of18)
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Firefighters continue battling a massive warehouse fire Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Chicago, that officials say is one of the largest fires in recent years. More than 170 firefighters have responded to the five-alarm blaze that started at about 9 p.m. Tuesday Jan, 22, 2013. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(04 of18)
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Firefighters continue battling a massive warehouse fire Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Chicago, that officials say is one of the largest fires in recent years. More than 170 firefighters have responded to the five-alarm blaze that started at about 9 p.m. Tuesday Jan, 22, 2013. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(05 of18)
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Firefighters continue battling a massive warehouse fire Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Chicago, that officials say is one of the largest fires in recent years. More than 170 firefighters have responded to the five-alarm blaze that started at about 9 p.m. Tuesday Jan, 22, 2013. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(06 of18)
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Chicago firefighters are covered in ice from single digit temperatures as they take a break from a five-alarm blaze in a warehouse on the city's South Side, Bridgeport neighborhood Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
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The frozen ice covered pair of gloves belonging to a Chicago firefighter stand on a railing behind him in single digit temperatures during a five-alarm blaze in a warehouse on the city's South Side, Bridgeport neighborhood rages Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
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Icicles form on a fire hose from single digit temperatures as Chicago firefighters battle a five-alarm blaze in a warehouse on the city's South Side, Bridgeport neighborhood Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
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A Chicago firefighter's helmet is covered with ice from single digit temperatures during a five-alarm blaze in a warehouse on the city's South Side, Bridgeport neighborhood Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(10 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters work to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(11 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters work to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(12 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters work to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(13 of18)
Open Image Modal
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters help to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(14 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: A truck and chemical drums are covered with ice as firefighters help to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(15 of18)
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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters help to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(16 of18)
Open Image Modal
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Firefighters help to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(17 of18)
Open Image Modal
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: A truck is covered in ice as firefighters help to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Firefighters Battling Massive Chicago Blaze Hindered By Frigid Temperatures(18 of18)
Open Image Modal
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: A firefighter helps to extinguish a massive blaze at a vacant warehouse on January 23, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 200 firefighters battled a five-alarm fire as temperatures were in the single digits. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

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