A 38 year old fire lieutenant from the Sterling, Illinois Fire Department died while fighting a house fire in rural Rock Falls overnight.   Firefighters were called to the rural residence shortly after 11 pm Friday for a reported garage fire that was spreading to the residence. Rock Falls and Sterling Fire Departments have an automatic aid agreement for fire calls such as these and both departments respond to such  calls. The first responding Rock Falls units could see the fire from some distance away and immediately put out a MABAS Box Alarm, with at least 12 area fire departments responding. Lieutenant Garrett Ramos from the Sterling Fire Department was inside the residence when the floor collapsed beneath him,  sending him crashing into the basement. Other firefighters were able to remove Lt, Ramos from the basement and he was transported by ambulance to CGH Medical Center in Sterling, where he succumbed to his injuries.  Lt. Ramos had previously served with the Charleston, S.C. Fire Department.

thanks Ed