Two firefighters killed in South Shore fire that trapped four
By KIM JANSSEN AND JAMES SCALZITTI Staff Reporters December 22, 2010 10:13AM
Firefighters respond to a fire in South Shore where a wall collapse trapped several responders. | NBC Chicago
Maps
Updated: December 22, 2010 10:32AM
Four Chicago firefighters were pulled from a burning building on the South Side after becoming trapped when a wall collapsed while they were fighting the blaze Wednesday morning at the abandoned, one-story, brick former Sing Way Laundry building on East 75th Street near South Shore High School, and two were confirmed dead.
Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford confirmed the dead were two firefighters but said he had no information on their rank or fire company.
One died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and the other died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Langford said.
Fire Dept. Commissioner Robert Hoff is expected to give an update and provide information on the deceased firefighters at Christ Medical Center.
The four firefighters were taken to hospitals in what was reported to be serious to critical condition.
But the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was told there were two fatalities, though it could not immediately identify the dead.
Nearly 100 firefighters responded to the “Mayday” call, including prompting a “Mayday” call that quickly brought out 100 firefighters, including off-duty firefighters and Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff, a third-generation Chicago firefighter whose father had died years ago in the line of duty.
“They were removed from different corners of the building,” Hoff said of those who had to be pulled out.
Of the rescue efforts, Hoff said, “They worked hard, got them out fast.”
The fire Wednesday came on the 100th anniversary of the Union Stock Yards fire, which killed 21 Chicago firefighters.
Frozen hydrants might have hampered firefighting efforts Wednesday.
The three-alarm fire started just before 7 a.m. in the building at 1744 E. 75th St.
Other firefighters, beyond the four who initially were trapped, also were taken to hospitals.
Robert Smart, who owns Smart Bros Car Wash next door to the laundry, said squatters regularly slept in the abandoned laundry building. He said he’s called police about the squatters before and that each time a security fence at the rear of the property was repaired, but the squatters cut a new whole in it and returned.
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