WGN LIVE video recorded before all firefighters were ‘accounted for’ at about 8:13 a.m. CST Monday — wgntv.com.
abc7chicago.com report.
UPDATE: Corey Ankum, 34, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Edward Stringer died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Two firefighters were killed, four firefighters were reported in serious-to-critical condition, and ten firefighters were reported injured in stable condition after a wall and roof collapse just after 7:00 a.m. CST. Firefighters responded to a routine fire at a vacant one-story commercial building at 1744 East 75th Street, and were inside searching for homeless occupants when a rear roof collapsed and a MAYDAY alert was called. The rear roof was a bowstring truss roof, and the front roof of the building was a flat roof.
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View Chicagoland Major Fires & Rescues in a larger map
Firefighters worked expeditiously to rescue up to 16 firefighters that were injured by the collapsed roof. After the collapse, the extra-alarm fire was elevated from a 2-11 to a 3-11. An EMS Plan 2 was also called for the incident. Firefighters were rescued from different corners of the building.
Fire Commissioner Robert S. Hoff on-scene press conference — wgntv.com.
As soon as the roof collapsed, a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) crew responded and a Personnel Accountability Report (“PAR”) was underway. Two firefighters were immediately rescued and rescue operations were underway for two firefighters that were under a collapsed wall and roof of the building. A third firefighter was reported rescued just after 8:00 a.m. Video of frantic removal of debris by hand from a group of about 50 firefighters was seen from ABC 7 Channel 7 CHOPPER 7 HD this morning and the helicopter from WGN TV. At 8:13 a.m. a fireground radio communication declared all firefighters ‘were accounted for.’
The extra-alarm fire was a 2-11 just before 7:10 a.m. and raised to a 3-11 just before 7:20 a.m. as the fire was reported to be extending in the building.
Firefighters reported having water supply problems with frozen fire hydrants. Fires often are at risk of getting out of control when manpower is focused on rescues, and when water supply problems exist. However, the fire was under control or struckout with firefighters checking for hot spots and a secondary search for victims when the roof collapsed.
Chicago police escorted two ambulances north on Lake Shore Drive to Level I Trauma Center Northwestern Memorial Hospital as roadway ramps were closed to clear traffic for the escort. One firefighter that was transported to Northwestern later died. The other firefighter was apparently one of the firefighters in serious-to-critical condition.
The third firefighter rescued from the rubble was transported to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he later died.
The fourth firefighter buried in debris and building material was transported along with 10 or 12 other firefighters were transported to area hospitals.
At about 9:00 a.m. a report that a total of 15 ambulance transports occurred from the scene — apparently including firefighters involved in the roof collapse and rescue afterwards.
The 3-11 Alarm fire was struck out at 9:11 a.m. Monday. The EMS Plan II was struck out at 9:11 a.m. Monday. The MAYDAY was also announced secured at 9:11 a.m.
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The breaking news report of the fire incident is published at The Cardinal Chicago Fire Department: Four Firefighters Trapped in Extra Alarm Fire on 75th Street, Two Rescued Immediately
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So unfortunate that so many fire fighters were injured and some lost their lives.
bowstring trusses have long been known to have been inadequately designed for snow loads and failure of these types of trusses should be expected. its a shame it take an event like this to bring this to light – look for code enforcement and legistation to correct all buildings with timber bowstring roof trusses.