West Cook News

The Cicero Fire Department honored four firefighters on May 28, 2024, for their life-saving efforts during a fire incident in February. Town President Larry Dominick, the Town of Cicero Board of Trustees, and the Fire Department recognized the firefighters for rescuing a woman trapped in a burning apartment building.

Fire Chief Jeff Penzkofer recounted that on February 16, 2024, at 8 PM, firefighters responded to an emergency call at 2123 55th Court, a four-story apartment building with over 30 units. "The first responders immediately saw a woman who was leaning out of a window on the fourth floor with flames all around her and they immediately responded by raising the ladder to reach her," Penzkofer said. However, as they were raising the ladder, "she backed out of the window and disappeared into the smoke and the flames."

Penzkofer, alongside Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Sochacki, explained that a second team of firefighters carried a water hose up through the back entrance to the fourth floor where they found and rescued the frightened woman.

"It is kind of like the pinnacle for us at the Fire Department. It doesn’t get any better than a life being saved because of some courageous act by our firefighters with the sense of urgency and just doing things the right way," Penzkofer stated at Tuesday's meeting. "They put their lives in danger to save another life."

The honored firefighters are Lt. Bradley Erickson; Matthew J. Lopresti; James Siciliano; and Jay Cranston. Erickson received the Medal of Valor for rescuing the victim from inside the building. Lopresti, Siciliano, and Cranston received Citations for an Incident reflecting Bravery, Courage, and Honor.

President Dominick praised both departments: "I always say that the Cicero Fire Department and the Cicero Police Department are the best that any community can have."