Chicago FD Truck 7 « chicagoareafire.com

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Two Chicago firefighters have been hospitalized after falling two stories through a hole in the third floor of an apartment building near Monroe Street and Albany Avenue.

The fire Sunday evening spread from the apartment building to a neighboring 1½-story building. A mayday call for trapped or injured firefighters was sent after the two firefighters fell all the way down to the first floor around 8:45 p.m. Saturday. One of the firefighters got out on his own, while colleagues helped the other to an ambulance. The firefighters, who were listed in serious-to-critical condition when they were transported, were both alert and talking Sunday night, though resting and likely to be kept for observation.

More than 100 firefighters and medics went to the scene. It appears the building did not have any working smoke detectors. No one seemed to be living on the second or third floors of the building, though there were people staying on the first floor.

This from Chi-Town Fire Photos:

Sunday night, the MFAO sent companies to a working fire @ 3104 W. Monroe Street. Upon arrival, Battalion 18 had a 3-sty brick, with heavy fire on the first, second, and third floors plus an exposure problem. A Still and Box was requested shortly after. Companies lead out 6+ hand lines and had two truck companies working the roof. For a short time, they had heavy fire venting through the roof and top floor. While working, multiple members fell through a hole in the floor which activated the Mayday Alert and 2-11. I believe the RIT team did remove one of the injured firefighters from the rear of building. Tough fire and a lot of work. Thankfully the injuries sustained were not life threatening. These photos began about 10 minutes into the fire.