CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago firefighter has died after suffering critical injuries while battling a fast-moving apartment fire on the city’s Far North Side.
Officials say Firefighter Mike Altman was injured Monday, March 16, while crews responded to a multi-alarm fire at a residential apartment building. During firefighting operations, Altman fell from the first floor into the basement after a structural collapse inside the building.
He was quickly rescued by fellow firefighters and transported to Stroger Hospital in serious-to-critical condition, suffering extensive second- and third-degree burns.
Despite aggressive medical treatment, Altman succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.
Fire officials say Altman came from a family deeply rooted in the fire service, described as a fourth-generation Chicago firefighter who dedicated his life to protecting others.
Fellow firefighters gathered at the hospital Tuesday morning to honor Altman, with a solemn procession escorting him from Stroger Hospital to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The fire brought a significant response, with numerous crews working to contain the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This marks a devastating loss for the Chicago Fire Department and the firefighting community nationwide.
— First Source News
