Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
Lieutenant Garret Ramos, who served with the Sterling Fire Department for nine years became the first Sterling firefighter to die in the line of duty.
Ramos, a 38-year-old father of two, responded to a house fire in Rock Falls around 11:04 p.m. on Dec. 3. In the early hours of Dec. 4, Ramos was inside fighting the fire at 10031 Ridge Road when the floor collapsed beneath him, prompting a rescue operation.
EMS crews attempted life-saving efforts while transporting Ramos to CGH Medical Center, where doctors continued those techniques to no avail.
The state fire marshal will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.