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Chicago Firefighters Trapped In Vacant Building Fire Collapse; Two Dead, Others Critical
Updated:
The fallen firefighters are Firefighter Edward Stringer and Firefighter Cory Ankum.
Chicago Sun-Times Fireground Images
CARLA K. JOHNSON
Associated Press
Chicago Fire Department
CFD Official website
Chicago IAFF Local 2
5-11 Club: Department Info.
Additional
ABCNews: Chicago Firefighters Killed
4 Firefighters Trapped in Vacant Building on South Side
Two Fires: One person killed; Two Firefighters Reportedly Trapped
4 firefighters trapped in wall collapse
ABC Photos: Firefighters Trapped in Wall Collapse
Firefighters Trapped After Building Collapse
FireEMSBlogs Updates:
Ash 'n Dreams: Prayers for Chicago
Firegeezer: Firefighters Trapped In Chicago
Fire Daily: Video, Audio, Chicago Collapse
Medic Three: May God Have Mercy...
STATter911: Wall Collapse Traps Chicago Firefighters
The Fire Critic: Chicago Firefighters Trapped
FireRescue Magazine:
Chicago Union Stockyards Fire, Dec. 22, 1910
Keokuk, Iowa - December 22, 1999
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press
CHICAGO - The burning building had been vacant for years, but the firefighters went in anyway - just in case squatters started the blaze and were trapped inside. Then the heavy-timbered roof and a wall collapsed.
In this frame grab made from WGN-TV, Chicago firefighters work to save firefighters that were trapped when a wall collapsed Wednesday Dec. 22, 2010 in Chicago's South Side while they were fighting a blaze at an abandoned commercial building. Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford confirmed that firefighters were unaccounted for at the scene on Chicago's South Side and that rescue crews were working to save them. (AP Photo/Courtesy WGN-TV)
Firefighters and officials stand near the scene of a fire at a one story building where fire officials say a wall collapsed killing two men and injuring more than a dozen firefighters, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, in Chicago. Wednesday is the 100th anniversary of the Union Stock Yards fire that killed 21 Chicago firefighters. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Four firefighters were trapped under debris, and two of them died on a day that already was among the most somber on the Chicago Fire Department's calendar. Exactly 100 years ago, 21 Chicago firefighters died when a wall collapsed at the Union Stock Yards fire, one of the nation's worst tragedies for firefighters before 9/11.
"We were ringing the bell and calling out the names," said retired fireman Bill Cosgrove, who was at a service honoring the anniversary. "We heard a mayday on the radio that a wall had fallen in."
Most of the firefighters at the service broke down in tears when they found out about the collapse, he said.
"It was beyond disbelief," Cosgrove said. "It was a matter of a few hours and a hundred years later we have the same type of incident."
He said two firefighters at the memorial left to help dig out their colleagues. Other off-duty firefighters rushed there as well, said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
They joined more than 170 other firefighters on duty who responded to a 911 call about the burning building just before dawn Wednesday, Langford said.
He said no one expected the call to be anything more than a routine winter fire.
Although the one-story building had been vacant for years and the utilities had been turned off, firefighters searched the building out of concern that homeless people might be inside trying to stay warm.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Authorities speculated that squatters might have been burning debris to keep warm.
"The fire had no other way of starting," Langford said.
He said the only people injured were firefighters.
The men killed were Edward Stringer, 47, a 12-year department veteran, and Corey Ankum, 34, who joined the department a little over a year ago. They and two others were trapped under the roof debris.
Two firefighters were pulled out quickly but rescuers had to use extrication equipment to reach the other two.
Every firefighter at the scene on Wednesday "did the best they could to save their brothers," said Robert Hoff, the city's fire commissioner.
Hoff and firefighter's union chief Tom Ryan spoke at an emotional news conference hours after the blaze.
"No matter how much experience you have on the job," Ryan said, "a morning like this still takes you by surprise." Ryan said the victims' families "can take solace in knowing that their husbands, their fathers, their brothers are heroes."
Mayor Richard Daley was out of town but issued a statement offering condolences to the victims' families. He was cutting his trip short to return home and address the city.
"Our prayers go out to the families of these two firefighters and to their brothers and sisters in the Chicago Fire Department, who put their lives in danger every day to keep Chicagoans safe," Daley said.
Ankum's brother, Gerald Glover, said he had been with the department for about a year and had a wife and three children.
"He was a great young man. He would do anything for anybody. He would give you the shirt off his back," Glover said.
It was unclear why the building's roof and wall collapsed. Hoff said snow, ice, and the building's age could have contributed.
___
Associated Press writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.
Local Coverage:
WLS TV: Friends, Family Mourn Fallen Firefighters
Chicago Tribune: Firefighters Died Doing A Job They Loved
Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-Cop Among Firefighters Killed
Chicagoist: 2 Firefighters Dead In Southside Blaze
MyFoxChicago: What Went Wrong?
Chicago Tribune: Collapse Traps Firefighters
WXOW: 2 Firefighters Killed
13ABC: Two Firefighters Killed
In this frame grab made from WGN-TV, Chicago firefighters work to save firefighters that were trapped when a wall collapsed Wednesday Dec. 22, 2010 in Chicago's South Side while they were fighting a blaze at an abandoned commercial building. Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford confirmed that firefighters were unaccounted for at the scene on Chicago's South Side and that rescue crews were working to save them. (AP Photo/Courtesy WGN-TV)
Firefighters and officials stand near the scene of a fire at a one story building where fire officials say a wall collapsed killing two men and injuring more than a dozen firefighters, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, in Chicago. Wednesday is the 100th anniversary of the Union Stock Yards fire that killed 21 Chicago firefighters. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Four firefighters were trapped under debris, and two of them died on a day that already was among the most somber on the Chicago Fire Department's calendar. Exactly 100 years ago, 21 Chicago firefighters died when a wall collapsed at the Union Stock Yards fire, one of the nation's worst tragedies for firefighters before 9/11.
"We were ringing the bell and calling out the names," said retired fireman Bill Cosgrove, who was at a service honoring the anniversary. "We heard a mayday on the radio that a wall had fallen in."
Most of the firefighters at the service broke down in tears when they found out about the collapse, he said.
"It was beyond disbelief," Cosgrove said. "It was a matter of a few hours and a hundred years later we have the same type of incident."
He said two firefighters at the memorial left to help dig out their colleagues. Other off-duty firefighters rushed there as well, said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
They joined more than 170 other firefighters on duty who responded to a 911 call about the burning building just before dawn Wednesday, Langford said.
He said no one expected the call to be anything more than a routine winter fire.
Although the one-story building had been vacant for years and the utilities had been turned off, firefighters searched the building out of concern that homeless people might be inside trying to stay warm.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Authorities speculated that squatters might have been burning debris to keep warm.
"The fire had no other way of starting," Langford said.
He said the only people injured were firefighters.
The men killed were Edward Stringer, 47, a 12-year department veteran, and Corey Ankum, 34, who joined the department a little over a year ago. They and two others were trapped under the roof debris.
Two firefighters were pulled out quickly but rescuers had to use extrication equipment to reach the other two.
Every firefighter at the scene on Wednesday "did the best they could to save their brothers," said Robert Hoff, the city's fire commissioner.
Hoff and firefighter's union chief Tom Ryan spoke at an emotional news conference hours after the blaze.
"No matter how much experience you have on the job," Ryan said, "a morning like this still takes you by surprise." Ryan said the victims' families "can take solace in knowing that their husbands, their fathers, their brothers are heroes."
Mayor Richard Daley was out of town but issued a statement offering condolences to the victims' families. He was cutting his trip short to return home and address the city.
"Our prayers go out to the families of these two firefighters and to their brothers and sisters in the Chicago Fire Department, who put their lives in danger every day to keep Chicagoans safe," Daley said.
Ankum's brother, Gerald Glover, said he had been with the department for about a year and had a wife and three children.
"He was a great young man. He would do anything for anybody. He would give you the shirt off his back," Glover said.
It was unclear why the building's roof and wall collapsed. Hoff said snow, ice, and the building's age could have contributed.
___
Associated Press writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.
Local Coverage:
WLS TV: Friends, Family Mourn Fallen Firefighters
Chicago Tribune: Firefighters Died Doing A Job They Loved
Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-Cop Among Firefighters Killed
Chicagoist: 2 Firefighters Dead In Southside Blaze
MyFoxChicago: What Went Wrong?
Chicago Tribune: Collapse Traps Firefighters
WXOW: 2 Firefighters Killed
13ABC: Two Firefighters Killed
Chicago Fire Department
CFD Official website
Chicago IAFF Local 2
5-11 Club: Department Info.
Additional
ABCNews: Chicago Firefighters Killed
4 Firefighters Trapped in Vacant Building on South Side
Two Fires: One person killed; Two Firefighters Reportedly Trapped
4 firefighters trapped in wall collapse
ABC Photos: Firefighters Trapped in Wall Collapse
Firefighters Trapped After Building Collapse
FireEMSBlogs Updates:
Ash 'n Dreams: Prayers for Chicago
Firegeezer: Firefighters Trapped In Chicago
Fire Daily: Video, Audio, Chicago Collapse
Medic Three: May God Have Mercy...
STATter911: Wall Collapse Traps Chicago Firefighters
The Fire Critic: Chicago Firefighters Trapped
FireRescue Magazine:
Chicago Union Stockyards Fire, Dec. 22, 1910
Keokuk, Iowa - December 22, 1999
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shari Simpson on
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Perfect words - they will not be forgotten
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Permalink Reply by Bobby Hunter on
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My heart goes out to the families of our fallen & injured FF's in this tragic event this morning. May our fallen brothers never be forgotten. I wish all my fellow brothers & sister's in the Fire/Rescue service a safe and happy holiday & New Year.
RIP my Brothers
with the
Chicago Fire Dept
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Permalink Reply by Pararescue on
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It's the season of miracles, I pray that this happens to be one.
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Permalink Reply by michael on
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Hey guys! this Michael coming Texas sending my prays out to everyone there. My Prayer go to the Cheif an the guys there so i will pray for u guys there. We love u guys an we are praying for Chicago Firefighter as of now god bless u guys
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Permalink Reply by Dale Barker on
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God Bless one and all, including the families of those injuried or to the ones who answered their last call.
Our thoughts and prayers from NY are with them.
Lets all take a moment of silence and pray for the rest of the brothers and sisters across the globe.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Richmond on
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Thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters of CFD as well as the families of our fallen comrades during this sorrowful time.
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Permalink Reply by anka kremer on
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This year I also lost a colleague in a fire. Knows how it feels.
My thoughts go out to the families and colleagues `s.
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Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
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How sad... my thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and the families and departments of those involved and surrounding.
R.I.P.
Please please be extra careful... especially in empty buildings...
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Permalink Reply by werner gielis on
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all my thoughts and prayers, are with the familys and the fellow-firefighters who are struck by this greeve
werner, an antwerp(belgium) firefighter
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Permalink Reply by Randy Totten on
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Thoughts and prayer to them all and their families...
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Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on
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May God welcome the souls of the departed, heal those that are injured , and comfort their friends and family
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