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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 michael m madsen on
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RIP Brothers, we will take it from here.
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Permalink Reply by Jack on
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My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and all the members of Chicago Fire
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Permalink Reply by Scott Mitchell on
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My thoughts and prayers go out to C.F.D. and to the family and friends of the fellow Firefighters from C.F.D. 2 Firefighters gave the ultimate sacrifice today at structure fire of a abandoned building and 4 other Firefighters who were injured. R.I.P. My brothers!!
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on
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The two Chicago firefighters whom lost their lives as well as the 17 that were wounded are heroes in every sense of the word and I'm sure the city of Chicago acknowledges and appreciates their sacrifice. I would imagine that something like this would be difficult to handle during any time of the year, but such a tragedy must be even more harsh to contend with as Christmas is just a few days away.
My heart goes out to the families of these men and the entire Chicago Fire Department.
Kinda errie that this tragedy happened on the 100th anniversary of the city's Union Stock Yards fire in which 21 firefighters were slain.
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Permalink Reply by S.Ruble on
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Pray for all those Chicago Firefighters who where hurt this morning and pray for all of the families of those firefighters. (TWO HAVE FALLEN) when a wall collapsed during a 3 Alarm blaze in an abandoned building.
My thoughts go out to all of the men and women of the department and the brotherhood, sisterhood and familes of the men and women in the fire department :'( GOD BLESS THEM ALL
May Saint Florian be with every firefighter and every firefighters family and may Saint Florian protect the fallen and may the fallen be the light that shines down on the men and women of the fire service and may the fallen be the beacon of light that shines through the smoke and when the flames rage make the fallen be the the light when in the dark of night there is a fire fight.
Bless the fallen
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Permalink Reply by paul on
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Heather,
With all due respect, at the time of your post all of the facts were not in as to what was really happening. The I.C saw that the rear doors were open which could of meant a possible rescue. There was not that much fire, and was contained to 1 office. There was NO fire in the trusses. He made the call along with company officers to do a search because of the chance that there was a victim. He for sure made great the right call to search. Just in this case this horrible accident took the lives of 2 great
people. There was no sign of impending collapse. So, yes, the building did turn out to be vacant but evidence on the scene said otherwise. If we feel that there is a chance of rescue of a civilian we will do what we can to rescue that person. If this building had a heavy fire load, the I.C would of never put members in harms way. This would be considered a recovery, so we would risk less. The CFD thanks you and all others for your thoughts and prayers. Take care and BE SAFE !! Last alarm 12/22/2010------335---335-----335
PBasic
CFD
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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What terrible, sad news. My prayers go out to the families of the LODD firefighter, to the injured firefighters, and to our brothers and sisters in the Chicago Fire Department.
Don't forget that their are families for whom Christmas will never be the same.
For those who want to discuss the cause - let's not rush to judgement.
Give it some time, let CFD take care of the injured firefighters and the families of the deceased, and get the whole story first.
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Permalink Reply by keith dickinson on
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My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Chicago Fire Dept and the families of the fallen brothers . Though they are gone the man upstairs will take them in and see that all is right . God Speed to them and their families and all the men of the Chicago Fire Dept
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Permalink Reply by David Earl Gregory on
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DAMMIT!! Don't know what else to say here. Hate like the dickens to hear of this, especially this time of year. My heart goes out to the men and women of CFD as well as to the individual families.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Armstrong on
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May in this time of need we all bow our heads and pray for the families of the fallen.May the Lord Jesus Christ take them into his arms and heal their pain and put them at peace.Job well done Brothers and I will remember you and the sacrafice you made.
Brothers of the CFD you can grieve but please raise your heads high to honor your fallen and the job you did today and know that you did the best you could for your FF's.May you be at peace and carry on in their names.
NEVER FORGET !!!!
Everyone please be safe out there!!!!
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Permalink Reply by steveferguson on
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GODBESSTHETHEREFAMILYSANDFRINDSNEVERAGOODTOLOSEAFIGHTERMYTHOGHSARETHEFAMILYSANDFRINDSGODBESSTHECHICAGOFIREANDEMSRESTINPESTBROTHERSSTEVEFERGUSONFRISCOTEXAS
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