A Tragic Day

A Historically Tragic Day for Chicago

Today a crowd gathered at the stockyards amid the snow falling in Chicago to remember 100^th anniversary of the tragic stockyard fire that claimed the lives of twenty-one firemen, including Fire Marshal James J. Horan, and three civilians killed during a tragic collapse at that fire. As the names from the historic fire were being read news spread through the crowd that there had been a collapse in another Chicago fire this one on 75th St. It's been reported that 19 firefighters were injured and that two firefighters have lost their lives on this historically tragic day.

We have been told that that firefighter Edward Stringer and firefighter Corey Ankum  lost their lives when the roof collapsed during the firefight at 1744 E. 75st St. Early reports indicate that firefighter Stringer and Ankum may have been working on the roof at the time of the collapse.

According to unconfirmed reports a collapse at the rear of the structure trapped four firefighters, all of whom were removed from the rubble. The building was vacant; the firefighters entered the structure to check for possible vagrants occupying the building. There was considerable evidence and reports that homeless people were using the facility for shelter.

The entire staff at Fire Engineering shares the grief of the CFD and is working to bring you up to the minute details of this tragic incident. None of the other injuries are considered to be life-threatening at this time although for firefighters are considered to be in critical condition.

The building at 1744 E. 75th St. has been reported as a heavy timber building, measuring 40' X 150'. The building had a flat roof in front and a bow string truss in the rear. Heavy smoke was reported issuing from the front of the building with considerable fire reported in the rear, described as an 'office area'.

The fire was knocked and firefighters began to conduct a secondary search. The best of our knowledge suddenly and without any warning the rear portion of the roof collapsed, trapping the four firefighters. The alarm was raised to a 3-11, E.M.S. Plan 2 and Mayday Plan 2.  The Mayday teams recovered the four firefighters however the resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful for firefighter Edward Stringer and firefighter Corey Ankum.

Fire Engineering will do everything we can to get you updated information from the scene. On behalf of Fire Engineering and the entire staff at Pennell Corporation we would like to express our deep condolences to the family and friends of firefighter Stringer and Ankum and to all the members of the Chicago fire Department for their tragic loss.