Chicagoans from across the city are stepping up to support the family of Chicago firefighter Michael Altman, who died following a fire earlier this week.
The 32-year-old was critically injured battling an apartment fire in Rogers Park and died from his injuries on Tuesday.
A procession was held Friday morning to honor Altman as his body was moved from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office to a funeral home ahead of services next week.
“Absolutely sadness, it’s very tragic,” said Brendan O’Brien, owner of Reilly’s Daughter in Oak Lawn. “They’re doing their job protecting our city everyday and for them to lose their life protecting the residents of Chicago, it’s terrible.”
O’Brien said Altman’s death hits close to home. He too comes from a family of firefighters.
“My grandfather was a battalion chief for the Chicago Fire Department; my uncle was a lieutenant, recently retired,” he said. “Everybody in this community, Mount Greenwood, Beverly right across the street from us, a lot of my customers are current or retired cops and firemen.”
His bar and restaurant is now raising money to support Altman’s pregnant wife and young child. They’re selling t-shirts for $25 to honor his memory.
“100% of the proceeds are going directly to his family,” he said. “The minute we run out of shirts in house, we’re going to do an online store so people can purchase them all over the country.”
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Tommy’s on Higgins in the Norwood Park neighborhood is also getting involved.
The bar will host a benefit from 6 to 10 p.m. on April 25 with Ignite the Spirit, a charity that benefits Chicago Fire Department families.
“Mike comes from a family of firemen, four generations, very nice family, that we all worked with, so in our way we want to come out and help support them financially in the best way possible,” said Brian McKermitt, Ignite the Spirit board member.
Donations continue to pour in.
The Yard Foundation, a charity that provides funding and assistance to first responders, has raised more than half a million dollars.
“Whatever help is amazing. I know it’s tough times no matter what to dig into the wallet to help out other people,” said Brian Cramer, a member of The Yard Foundation. “Just with everything going on in the world, it’s amazing that people still do care about others.”
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