Off-Duty Firefighter Spots Real Fire While Working On Set For 'Chicago Fire' Spinoff
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Chicago firefighter moonlighting on the set of the TV show "Chicago Med" noticed there was a real emergency just three doors down Thursday morning in the Kenwood neighborhood.
Michael Agostinelli smelled smoke as he was in the 4800 of South Kimbark Avenue, where he was working safety and first aid for the film crew of the "Chicago Fire" spinoff, when he smelled smoke, and saw a house on fire three doors away.
"When I called 911, apparently there was another phone call made, and I'm guessing it was from the people on set that noticed the smoke," he said. "According to the 911 operator, she said 'No, no, no, they're filming. It's a movie shoot,' and that's when I told her, 'No, I'm an off-duty fireman, and you have a fire. There's a legit fire going on.'"
Agostinelli said the homeowners were doing some renovation, and didn't even know there was a fire.
"They had no idea that there was anything burning. They just looked at me with this puzzled look on their face," he said. "They don't know me, and I'm pounding on their door, and telling them that their roof is on fire."
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He helped them get out safely.
"I just did my job, what I've been trained to do," he said.
Agostinelli, who lives on the Northwest Side, said he's worked with lots of film crews while off-duty. The 46-year-old firefighter has been with the Chicago Fire Department for 20 years.
He's also a tattoo artist.
"I have the best of both worlds," he said.
