Daughter Of Chicago Firefighter Who Died In Blaze Five Years Ago Calls For Tougher Penalties Against Building Owners
(CBS) -- Daughter of a Chicago firefighter who died in the line of duty five years ago is asking why it had to happen again this week, and is calling for tougher penalties against the landlords whose buildings burn.
"It can't happen anymore. It just can't," Jennifer Stringer said. "I can't stomach it anymore. I don't want my heart to break anymore, and I don't think any other family should have to go through this anymore, bottom line," she said.
She said she did not believe she could feel as much pain against until Monday, when she learned that
firefighter Daniel Capuano died when he fell two stories in an elevator shaft left empty by unauthorized work. Stringer's father Ed and a second firefighter, Corey Ankum, died in December 2010 when the truss roof and a wall of an abandoned laundry collapsed during a fire in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood.
Stringer says the anger at that time should have resulted in stiffer civil penalties and criminal sanctions against landlords who abandon buildings in such situations or allow unauthorized work. But to date, she told WBBM, she has yet to hear much interest, either from legislators or aldermen.
Stringer's attorney, Peter Flowers, said he could forgive the city and state for not having tougher penalties on the books in 2010, but said the inaction since then is "inexcusable."
Since they contacted WBBM, a state senator has contacted WBBM, asking to be put in touch with Stringer, who said she would gladly lobby the Chicago City Council or the General Assembly for tougher penalties.