Apartment building fire spreads and destroys Chicago brewery

CHICAGO — A Chicago brewery has been destroyed by a dramatic early morning blaze that fire officials believe started in a nearby apartment building.

The Twisted Hippo partially collapsed due to the fire which started about 3:30 a.m. Monday in the city’s Albany Park neighborhood.

Tenants in the apartment building were able to escape. One man was taken to a hospital after suffering possible smoke inhalation, according to police.

Neighbors reported hearing explosions, WBBM-TV reported.^[1]

VIDEO: “I woke up to the sound of explosions, it cracked my window”

Unreal damage here at Albany Park’s Twisted Hippo Brewery

A total collapse left cars buried in rubble after a fire on the block— neighbors say they saw it start in apartment bldg next door@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/kzuDa0XE0C

— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) February 21, 2022

“It’s hard to see everything you worked for go up in flames, but I’m just glad my staff and everyone is okay,” Twisted Hippo owner Marilee Rutherford told the television station.

“We have CO2 nitrogen tanks, just as a regular part of our business and I’m certain that’s what the explosions were,” Rutherford added.

Another business, the Ultimate Ninja gym, also was damaged by the fire, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.^[2]

With tears in her eyes Marilee Rutherford stands in front of the rubble from her brewery, Twisted Hippo

“It’s hard to see everything you worked for go up in flames, but I’m just glad my staff and everyone is okay. That’s all I’m focused on”@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/A1SgRPdHz5

— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) February 21, 2022

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