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City mourns first active-duty firefighter death in 12 years

Keith BieryGolick, Henry Molski, Sharon Coolidge, Dan Horn, Sydney Murray, and Carrie Blackmore Smith
Cincinnati
A photo of fallen firefighter Daryl Gordon, 54, is shown on a screen at a news conference Thursday morning.

Cincinnati Firefighter Daryl Gordon died fighting a Madisonville blaze Thursday morning, the first death of a city firefighter in 12 years.Follow our report:

5:54 p.m.: "He was the greatest friend – brother -- I could ever think of."

4:28 p.m.: Remembering firefighters lost in the line of duty.

4:24 p.m.: The people who we call to save us now need saving themselves.

2:30 p.m.: Red Cross continues to reach out to residents displaced by the fire.

12:50 p.m.: Community reacts - 'He loved his job'

11:40 a.m.: Enquirer editorial: Today, a city mourns a hero


11:32 a.m.: City news conference - ''God is holding him tightly"

11 a.m.: As in any firefighter's death, the incident raises some tough questions. Here's how investigators will respond:

10:58 a.m.: City releases statement

10:42 a.m.: The last active-duty firefighter death

10:25 a.m.: Honoring firefighter Gordon


9:45 a.m.: Cincinnati firefighter Daryl Gordon, 54, died this morning, according to a spokesperson for Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley.

9:00 a.m: The University of Cincinnati Emergency - EMS department reports that the firefighter extricated from the building has died.

The department subsequently deleted the tweet.

INITIAL STORY: Authorities issued a mayday call after a firefighter fell down an elevator shaft while trying to rescue residents from an apartment building in Madisonville early Thursday.

At least one other firefighter was taken to the hospital with second-degree burns, said Cincinnati Fire Chief Richard Braun.

It took officials several minutes to get to the firefighter in the elevator, who reportedly was not breathing when crews found him, according to emergency communications.

Authorities rushed the firefighter away on a stretcher around 6:45 a.m. Braun told The Enquirer the firefighter had arrived at the hospital and was in "dire straits."

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Officials are unsure about the number of civilian injuries. Braun said he saw at least one baby taken to the hospital.

At least three civilians were being treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's emergency room, according to dispatch reports.

When the fire broke out at the Kings Tower Apartments shortly before 6 a.m., one resident told The Enquirer he had to jump from his balcony on the second floor to escape.

"I woke up to screaming and shouting, opened my door and the smoke near knocked me over," said Clarence Mallory.

"I couldn't even see down the hallway."

Fire officials said on Twitter the fire was under control before the firefighter fell down the elevator shaft. Initial dispatch reports indicated multiple residents got stuck on the third floor.

"We've got a bunch of people yelling, they are on the third floor," an official at the scene told dispatchers.

More crews were immediately requested, and the fire was eventually upgraded to a level four alarm.

Authorities also requested a bus for the evacuated residents.

"Pretty much the whole building is being evacuated," one crew member told dispatchers.

Live updates from the scene:

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The Enquirer will update this story.