Backdraft

[grumpy grizzly]

Raymond Hoff, a former Chicago Fire Department battalion chief passed away recently. He was 69 years old and is the brother of the current comissioner, Robert Hoff. The movie "Backdraft" was loosely based on the Hoff family. Mr Hoff was a third generation firefighter. His grandfather retired as a captain in 1936. His father was a battalion chief who was killed in a building collapse on February 14, 1962. 4 years later Mr. Hoff joined the department. Commissioner Hoff stated that their mother passed away when he was 14 and he moved in with his older brother. While assigned to Truck 10 as a captain Raymond was the first due company at the Paxton Hotel at a fire that killed 20 people and left dozens injured. He stated it was bedlam, people ready to jump from windows with fire everywhere. For the next 10 minutes he directed operations which resulted in the rescue of over 25 people. Condolances to the Hoff family