Excerpts from theintelligenger.com:
Godfrey Fire Department Capt. Jake Ringering was killed Tuesday after a brick structure collapsed on him while he and others fought a fire in the 4000 block of Culp Lane in Bethalto.
Another firefighter with the department, Luke Warner, suffered injuries and was transferred from the scene by helicopter. He is in stable condition, according to a press release sent Tuesday night by Alton Fire Chief Bernie Sebold.
A release from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office says two other firefighters were injured and have since been released from the hospital. Their names were not released.
The first crews were called around 4:16 p.m. to the home for a fully-involved house. A family living there had escaped, but reported several pets in cages remained in the home.
Firefighters from multiple departments worked the scene for nearly an hour when there was the report of multiple injuries to firefighters after part of the home collapsed.
An official cause of the fire was not immediately given by fire officials. It appeared to originate in an area of a garage, from where injured firefighters were seen being taken on stretchers.
Firefighters from Cottage Hills, Bethalto, Brighton, and Godfrey responded to aid the Fosterburg Fire Protection District, which was first on the scene. Alton Memorial Ambulance, Lifestar Ambulance, Survival Flight, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.
Late Tuesday night, fire and rescue agencies from across the metro area formed a procession that carried the body of Capt. Ringering from Alton Memorial Hospital past Godfrey Fire Station 1, where personnel stood in salute outside. The procession then continued past the East Alton Fire Station, and on to a Madison County facility.
During the procession, the Edwardsville Fire Department manned Alton stations, and Alton personnel covered Godfrey calls.
