Chicago FD’s Firefighter Jermaine Pelt dies at early morning fire
Firefighter Pelt's daughter notified of her dad's death while on her honeymoon
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Diane Pathieu, WLS-TV:
Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt died after an extra-alarm fire in the West Pullman neighborhood Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out near 120th and Wallace streets after 3:30 a.m., the fire department said.
The fire is believed to have started in the attic of a home and spread to two adjacent homes. The building where the fire started appeared to have a partial roof collapse.
Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance Holt said firefighter Pelt was working a hose line when conditions worsened and all firefighters were ordered out.
Pelt, a father of two who recently celebrated his 49th birthday, had been a member of the department since 2005 and worked in the city’s Roseland community for his entire career, according to CFD Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt.
“He just walked his daughter down the aisle for her wedding and she’s on a honeymoon right now,” Nance-Holt said through tears.
A procession escorted Pelt’s body from Christ Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office Tuesday morning as the city and the department honored his service.