Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Around 1940 hours as the crew on Engine 83 was preparing to back in the station after returning from a medic local (and unfortunately picking up dinner), one of the back step guys pointed out a column of smoke coming from the south and almost simultaneously the alerting system went off for 1971 Rochelle Ave, in Company 26's, for an apartment on fire.  Engine 83 arrived with E26 to find a garden apartment with heavy fire conditions on both floors in the rear (or front actually, the apartments are set up weird).  Engine 83 dropped off the crew as the driver went to turn around so as not to block the driveway for incoming units when picking up the line and advanced a back up line with E26.  The outside of the building had to be knocked down first before entry could be made.  Once that was done both the crews from 26 and 8 advanced up the stairs and began working both sides (8 to the left and 26 to the right) extinguishing the fire as it had extended throughout the cockloft and through the roof in parts.  A second alarm and a cautionary third alarm were called due to the amount of work and heat (weather).  The crew from 8 put in a good amount of work and went through a few bottles before being sent to rehab. The fire was extinguished and units were held for overhaul. Engine 83 however was not one of those units and returned home after about 3 hours. Thanks to a friend of the company for snappping most of these pics for us early on.