Chicago starts hiring replacement firefighters

Nearly 400 firemen candidates were given physical examinations Monday in an attempt by city officials to break a strike by firefigthers. The strike was in its fifth day with no sign of a negotiated settlement. No major fires have occurred since firemen walked out last Thursday.

The decision to start training replacements followed the issuing of contempt of court citations Sunday by a judge who slapped Fire Fighters Union Local 2 and seven of its leaders with $40,000 in fines for each day the strike continued.