Close Call Video-Chicago Firefighter Falls Through Roof Of House Fire

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May 21st, 2014

CHICAGO (WLS) A Chicago firefighter is OK after a roof gave way at a house fire at 90th and Escanaba.

The firefighter was on top of the roof of the home with several others when he fell partly through the roof.

The firefighter was on top of the roof of the home with several others when he fell partly through the roof. He was stuck up to his waist.

Other firefighters helped pull him out of the hole. He was not seriously injured, Chicago Fire Department officials said.

Video: http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-firefighter-ok-after-fall-through-roof/71427/

[Officer Ed 59]

Lucky, lucky! I know that firefighters go up on the roofs of house fires to "vent" the fire but, to me, the action seems more dangerous than it's worth. When a house is fully involved, it's going to be a total loss anyway so why not just do what you can do from outside the perimeter and protect nearby structures?

[RITRobotoX 29]

Watching the video, it looks like the house might have been under renovation and it looks like this happened during overhaul (look at the number of guys just standing around in that back part of the building with no wall sheathing). That's a lot of guys to be on a roof that's just had its structure weakened by a fire, especially if some of the underlying structure wasn't put back together yet.

On an sort of related note, what's up with that ladder on the A side of that house?

Not trying to "day-after IC" this, just thinking out loud about what we can learn from this close-call.