A firefighter was seriously injured on March 17 while battling a fire at an apartment building in Rogers Park, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by first responders during emergency situations. The fire began around 11:30 a.m. at 1757 W. North Shore Avenue and was declared under control by about 1:15 p.m., according to the department’s media affairs office.
Officials said one firefighter was taken to a local hospital in “serious to critical” condition after falling from the first floor of the building into the basement. The firefighter was rescued within one minute, according to CBS Chicago. No other injuries were reported.
More than 100 fire department personnel responded to the scene, and neighbors described seeing smoke coming from the rear of the building, which showed burn marks on its exterior. Crews boarded up the structure later in the day while some first responders remained on site. North Shore Avenue stayed closed to traffic as of 5 p.m., with a Department of Water Management truck present due to a reported leak in the building.
The affected apartment building was constructed in 1919 and previously listed as having 13 beds and seven bathrooms, though it is unclear how many separate apartments are inside.
