Man Arrested On Unrelated Charge Questioned About Rogers Park Fire That Killed Firefighter

Chicago police were seeking a person of interest in relation to a fire that killed Chicago firefighter/EMT Michael Altman earlier this week in Rogers Park. The man is reportedly in custody on an unrelated charge.

An internal police bulletin dated March 17 and marked “sensitive” appeared on social media. The bulletin indicated that Area 3 detectives were “seeking to locate and interview” a 27-year-old man related to the deadly fire at 1757 W. North Shore Ave., in the North Side Rogers Park neighborhood.

The 27-year-old is also said to have an active warrant for his arrest when he failed to show up for a court appearance in January on felony drug and misdemeanor retail theft charges. The man also has several past arrests and is currently on probation, the Chicago Sun-Times and CWB Chicago reported.

Around 11:20 a.m. Monday, fire crews responded to a fire in a 4-story apartment building at 1757 W. North Shore Ave. The 32-year-old firefighter was on an upper floor when it collapsed beneath him, causing him to plunge several stories into the basement that was fully engulfed in flames. Officials said fellow firefighters got to Altman in “under a minute.” Altman was rushed to Stroger Hospital with burns over 90 percent of his body. He died of his injuries the next day.

Altman was a fourth-generation Chicago firefighter. He was assigned to Truck 47 in Edgewater and had two years with the department. Altman was married with a young child and another baby on the way.

Chicago Police News Affairs said it had no further information to release regarding the death investigation as it remains ongoing. No charges have been filed.

Police officials are, however, launching an internal investigation into the release of the “seeking to locate” bulletin, as it was not intended for public release but rather “an internal investigative tool.”

Visitation and funeral services for the fallen firefighter will take place March 26 and March 27, both at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7040 S. Western Ave., Chicago.

The Yard Foundation, a fee-free crowdfunding platform by firefighters for firefighters, is accepting donations for the fallen firefighter, who was married with a young child at home and another baby on the way. Donations can be made at “Send Support To The Family of Mike Altman After Fatal On-Duty Injury.”