BREAKING UPDATE: Chicago Firefighter Dies After Extra-Alarm Fire on City's South Side
A procession escorts the body of fallen Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt from Christ Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
The blaze started around 3:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of South Wallace Street, according to fire officials. It then spread to two other buildings. "This is a huge loss to us as a family," Nance-Holt said."Jermaine is our family. And when we lose one of our members, it takes a toll on us. People just don't know what firefighters and paramedics go through daily when they respond to these calls, not knowing if they'll come home the next and this is what we saw today."
Pelt, who has two children - a daughter who was recently married and a 6-year-old - worked with the department since 2005. "He just walked his daughter down the aisle for her wedding and she's on a honeymoon right now," Nance-Holt said.