A Sterling lieutenant was killed when the floor collapsed beneath him during a house fire in rural Rock Falls Friday night.
Garrett Ramos, 38, responded along with several other fire departments to the Ridge Road home just after 11 p.m.
"While Sterling Fire Lieutenant was inside fighting the house fire, the floor collapsed beneath him, necessitating a rescue operation," the Sterling Fire Department shared in a press release.
EMS crews initiated life-saving efforts at the scene and he was transported to CGH Medical Center, but doctors were unable to revive him.
Ramos joined the department in 2012.
He leaves behind a wife and two children.
"He was an amazing individual of the highest caliber on and off duty," the department shared. "It is a truly devastating loss to his family, the City family, especially his brothers in the fire service, and to the larger Sterling community."
Firefighters from Dixon City, Dixon Rural, Milledgeville, Prophetstown, Tampico, Polo, Harmon, Amboy, Mount Morris and the Chadwick fire districts also responded to the tragic blaze.
Officials from the State Fire Marshal's Office were called in to investigate the incident.
