45 Years Since McCormick Place Fire, Beginning of RJA

The 1967 McCormick Place fire took the lives of one and the jobs of many, but helped the city and industry realize a need. Rolf Jensen was called upon by then mayor Richard J. Daley to investigate the fire. Daley evoked the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to remind the city that although it had been devastated, rebirth was a probable opportunity.

Jensen’s findings showed him the depth of the need and led him to start a fire protection and life safety engineering consulting practice, Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. By working with architects and the city, he sought to reform code and ensure compliance to avoid future catastrophes. Today RJA has a wide variety of services that seek to protect lives and property from fire and tragic events.

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