By Sally Ho, Rose Sobol, Kara Spak and Ben Meyer-Abbott
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter battling a blaze at a downtown restaurant died this morning from injuries he suffered when he fell about 35 feet from a fire escape, officials said.
Christopher Wheatly, 31, died at Stroger Hospital after doctors there tried to save his life, an emotional Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff said at a press conference outside the hospital this morning.
“I really ask that everybody keeps him and his family in his prayers,” Hoff said, fighting back emotions. “He was one of our finest.”
A grease fire broke out at about 12:30 a.m. at the prominent Avec restaurant at 615 W. Randolph. It was quickly extinguished.
“They had to go up to the roof area, where the grease shield extended through,” Hoff said. “Firefighter Christopher Wheatly was making his way up to the roof on a ladder that was attached to the building, carrying his equipment.
“Apparently when he was making his way up, he apparently slipped and fell to the ground, causing critical injuries,” Hoff said. “And when he was brought here [to Stroger], they worked to save his life, but it was too late.
“Firefighter Chris Wheatly was assigned to Truck Company 2. He was 31 years old. Left a mother, father, sister and a fiance.
“He was very, very well liked. He was a very hard worker. He was a paramedic firefighter, who always had a smile on his face. And he was extremely well-liked by all the men that worked with him, and the women. He was a paramedic for a long time, then he crossed over to be a firefighter...
“He was a very aggressive firefighter — he was into the job,” Hoff said later, standing outside Wheatly’s firehouse not far from the restaurant that caught fire. “He was aggressive. He was into training. He was an all-around firefighter. He loved the job.”
Wheatly, who was on the job for 10 years, fell approximately 35 feet, Hoff said.
He was carrying up to 75-pounds of equipment, including an ax, oxygen tank and hose, fire officials said.
After Hoff announced his death, Wheatly’s body was taken to the nearby Cook County Medical Examiner’s office Monday morning in a procession of at least 25 police and fire vehicles — and 14 people making the slow walk. His body was inside ambulance No. 15.
Police squad cars with their lights turned on lined West Harrison Street from North Damen Avenue to the medical examiner’s office at 2121 West Harrison Street.
“He was one of the most helpful on ambulance assists and when he was first-responding,” said paramedic Jeff Swagler, who saw Wheatly last week. “He was always willing to jump in and help.
“He was very popular, he was well liked in the department. There was nothing not to like about him,” Swagler said with his eyes welling with tears. “He was a big sports fan. He had season tickets to the Cubs, he was a big Bears and Blackhawks fan as well. He was a good guy.”
Outside Avec this morning, a woman who identified herself as the building manager said she witnessed the tragedy overnight when she happened by the restaurant on her way home from out of town.
“He landed right in front of me,” she said, shaking. “He landed right in front of me.”
The woman said the grease vents had been cleaned 20 days ago.
At Wheatly’s firehouse at 324 S. Desplaines, the American and City of Chicago flags were at lowered to half staff. Purple bunting was draped across the buildings, as 35 firefighters watched.
“This job is dangerous,” Hoff said. “You never know what is going to happen when you pull out the door.”
Republished with permission of The Chicago Sun-Times.