Chicago firefighter who came from storied CFD family dies after being injured in Rogers Park blaze

Michael Altman came from Chicago Fire Department royalty.

His father was a battalion chief and his grandfather ran the department under Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Late Monday morning, Altman followed in their footsteps when he responded to a fire at a four-flat in Rogers Park. When a floor collapsed, he fell into the flames, fire officials said.

Altman suffered extensive injuries and later died Tuesday morning at age 32, according to the fire department and Cook County medical examiner’s office. He had been on the job for less than two years.

Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters the city “not only lost a public servant, but we lost a hero.”

Johnson joined Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt and other officials outside Stroger Hospital before a procession took Altman to the medical examiner’s office.

“Let this be a constant reminder of how important it is that we continue to put our arms around our first responders and continue to support them,” the mayor said.

Altman served on Truck 47 in Edgewater and came “from a long history of public service in the Chicago Fire Department,” Nance-Holt said.

Altman’s grandfather, Edward P. Altman, served as the fire commissioner from 1996 until 1999. Three of his sons — Edward F., James and Altman’s father, Michael — followed in his footsteps and were also firefighters. Altman’s father rose to the rank of battalion chief.

Mayor Richard J. Daley forged a strong friendship with Edward Altman in the early 1980s. The late fire commissioner repeatedly flew the mayor’s son, then-state Sen. Richard M. Daley, from Springfield to Chicago to visit his own dying son. Richard M. Daley later named Edward Altman fire commissioner when he became mayor.

Nance-Holt said it’s a “profoundly difficult time for all of us,” adding that the staff at Stroger “did everything they humnanly could” to save Altman.

“We are heartbroken by yet another loss of our own,” she said. “Michael gave everything in service to the people of Chicago and we will never forget his courage and sacrifice.”

Altman was among the firefighters who responded to a fire at the back of the four-story building in the 1700 block of West North Shore Avenue that started around 11:20 a.m. Monday, Deputy District Fire Chief Kelly Burns told reporters at the scene. Burns said he fell through a floor that collapsed.

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

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said Altman’s “bravery and selflessness saved countless lives yesterday, and the people of Rogers Park are all grateful for Mike and the rest of the Chicago Fire Department.”

This is a developing story, check back for details.

Fran Spielman contributed.