Firefighter seriously hurt battling extra-alarm blaze in Rogers Park

A Chicago firefighter was seriously hurt Monday when he fell through the floor of a burning Rogers Park apartment building.

The fire started around 11:20 a.m. at the back of the four-story multi-unit building at 1757 W. North Shore Ave., Deputy District Chief Kelly Burns told reporters at the scene Monday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to the fire in less than 10 minutes, he said.

"We thought we were making good progress. And then we had a collapse on the first floor," Burns said.

The firefighter who fell was taken in serious condition to Stroger Hospital. Burns did not share his current condition.

"He was there one second and he was in the basement the next," he said. "They had him out within, I'm going to say, under a minute from the basement."

Burns said there was "heavy fire" in the basement and up into the first floor. Flames traveled up the plumbing into the second and third floors, he said.

"What we initially thought was a small amount of fire in the back turned out to be a large volume fire, running the whole height of the building," Burns said.

The fire was controlled by around 12:15 p.m., Fire Department spokesperson Larry Merritt said. At least seven people were inside when the fire started, Burns said. None of them were taken to a hospital, he said. A dog was also among the displaced, according to dispatch audio.

Sue Biver, 67, who lives across the alleyway from the building, saw news of the fire online and immediately ran home from work.

"I came straight here because I knew that was really close to my home," Biver said. She has lived in her apartment her entire life.

"I was looking at all the flames coming out the back here. But when I ran around to the front, nothing much was coming out there," Biver said. "You could see the flames in the basement and everything."

She said her building and backyard appear to be fine. Debris from the fire and broken glass littered the alleyway.