A second alarm was transmitted six minutes later, and all off-duty firefighters in the city were summoned.

Their efforts were supplemented by numerous off-duty firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

Last month, three off-duty firefighters were arrested in separate traffic incidents over a single weekend, two involving drunken driving.

Firefighters quickly flooded the neighborhood, and Chicago's off-duty firefighters were told to report for duty.

David Offitto, 38, an off-duty firefighter who lives across the street from the school, was waiting for a delivery when he heard screaming.

He was among the 60 off-duty firefighters to die.

Also, many off-duty firefighters arrived to help, without their radios.

The fire was not reported to the fire department until 2:38 am when an off-duty firefighter passing by reported it.

Other off-duty firefighters also rushed into towers to help.

But after two off-duty firefighters were charged with drunken driving over the weekend, he said the department would be more aggressive in the future.