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An Illinois firefighter with the Western Springs Fire Department died in a
training accident Monday evening.
Willard Christoffer, 54, a paid-on-call probationary firefighter with the
department only six months, fell approximately 65 feet from an aerial ladder
during department training taking place in a shopping center parking lot.
Christoffer, who had completed his preliminary training last week and was
participating in a regularly scheduled department exercise, had ascended to
the top of a fully extended aerial ladder at 105 feet. He was on his way
back down when he fell and landed on the turntable of the ladder truck.
Paramedics on the scene immediately treated and transported Christoffer to
the Loyola Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30
p.m.
Christoffer was an industrial hygienist for a firm in Downers Grove. He is
survived by his wife Lucy and two small children. Funeral arrangements are
pending.
Western Springs FD serves a population of about 12,400 with eight paid and
38 paid-on-call firefighters. The town is just west of Chicago.
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