60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 4: 92 Students and 3 Nuns Perished

The school's second floor windows were 25 feet from the outside ground preventing a safe jump for students ir teachers.

The fire department was late getting to the fire as they had somehow been given the wrong address.  They then had to use a ladder as a battering ram to break through the locked iron fence surrounding the school.  Eventually more than 200 firefighters from 22 engine companies, seven ladder companies and 10 squad companies responded to the fire.

The Chicago Fire Commissioner at the time, Robert Quinn, was quoted as saying of the fire, "It was the worst thing I have ever seen or ever will see."

Firefighters and neighbors began to bring ladders to the site to attempt to rescue trapped students on the second floor of the north wing.  Firemen climbed ladders and pulled many students through the windows to safety.

Some of the students jumped from the windows.  Approximately 340 students and teachers were trapped on the second floor of the north wing and of these, 92 students and three nuns perished.