By Caroline Kubzansky
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — A firefighter was in good condition Thursday night after he became disoriented fighting an extra-alarm blaze at a furniture store in the Roseland neighborhood, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The fire appeared to have broken out in the basement of Elegant Furniture and Linen, in the 11200 block of South Michigan Avenue, around 6 p.m. according to Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford. Six people were in the store and directed firefighters to the basement, where one of the firefighters lost his bearings in the smoky fire and called “Mayday,” an emergency call for firefighters in distress.
Another team of firefighters were able to find him and move him away from the scene, Langford said. He was in good condition, though dazed, Thursday night. None of the other people in the building were hurt.
The smoky conditions were due to masses of furniture and mattresses stored in the basement, Langford said. All of those materials ignited at about the same time in what is known as a “flashover.”
The fire department upgraded the fire to a 2-11 alarm, which summons additional manpower and firefighter equipment to the scene. It was still burning around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Langford said.
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