Chicago Firefighter Killed When He Fell into Elevator Shaft at Vacant Warehouse Fire

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Chicago firefighters responded about 2:40 am. Monday to a warehouse fire on at 9213 South Baltimore Avenue in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood. Engine 46 crew reported smoke showing from the back of the warehouse at about 2:44 a.m. The crew from Truck 17 positioned at the front of the building, and sometime soon afterward Tower Ladder 34’s crew arrived on the scene.

At about 2:56 a.m. Battalion Chief 23 reported that a firefighter fell through a hole in a floor and upgraded the fire department response to a Mayday Alert, a Still and Box Alarm, and an EMS Plan 1. Heavy smoke visibility was also reported inside the building. The firefighter’s partner and other firefighters heard the fall, and were able to immediately rescue the firefighter from the basement of the warehouse. The hole was located at the top of an elevator shaft.

Squad 5’s crew and Ambulance 22’s crew were assigned to the front of the building by 2:58 a.m. BC23 reported the warehouse was under demolition, and reported “we got the fireman out” by 3:04 a.m. At about 3:09 a.m. Chicago Fire Department paramedics reported they were transporting the firefighter with CPR underway and an airway established. The EMS transport was classified by paramedics as a trauma call.

At about 3:31 a.m. the Command Van officer reported to dispatch that the fire involved a large pile of rubbish inside the warehouse, and that firefighters were working on ventilation of the building. The Still and Box for the warehouse fire was struck out at about 3:39 a.m. The Mayday alert and EMS PLan 1 were also secured at 3:39 a.m.

In a press conference at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Jose Santiago announced that firefighter Daniel Capuano, age 42, suffered traumatic injuries in a fall in an elevator shaft from the second floor to the basement, and succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 4:25 a.m. The commissioner reported that 15-year veteran firefighter Jose Santiago left behind a wife and three children. Capuano also worked for Evergreen Park Fire Department.

FINAL SALUTE: A Chicago firefighter is killed while battling a blaze on the city’s south side. A short while ago, firefighters saluted as 42-year-old Daniel Capuano’s body was taken from Christ Hospital. He was a 15-year-veteran of the Chicago Fire Department and leaves behind a wife and 3 children. “SHARE” your condolences for this fallen hero. MOTORCADE PHOTOS: http://abc7.ws/1RN1FV6

Posted by ABC 7 Chicago on Monday, December 14, 2015

A procession transported the body of Daniel Capuano from Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office on Harrison Street in Chicago — departing the hospital at about 8:00 a.m. Monday.






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