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Resident Jumps From Fifth Floor During Edgewater High‑Rise Fire

Intense heat plus heavy smoke forced crews to shift from an interior stairwell operation to an exterior aerial-ladder attack, showing how quickly high-rise blazes can overwhelm inside tactics.

Overview

  • Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke on the fifth floor of a North Sheridan Road high-rise and launched a coordinated multi-company response.
  • Crews began a conventional interior high-rise operation from the floor below the fire but added an exterior aerial-ladder attack when heat and smoke made inside work unsafe.
  • One resident jumped from the fifth floor to a lower mezzanine, was rescued by firefighters, and was taken to a hospital in serious condition while conscious and speaking with responders.
  • Multiple other residents were evaluated for minor smoke exposure and released, searches by several companies found no fatalities, and nearby roads were closed during the response.
  • The Chicago Fire Department said the cause remains under investigation and noted that smoke movement and extreme heat often force crews to alter tactics in high-rise incidents.