Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | James Ward |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | [Unknown] |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 2/23/1971 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 1/13/1971 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On January 13, 1971, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter James P. Ward of Engine 19 suffered a heart attack while fighting a residential fire on South Lake Park Avenue. Ward died on February 23 as a result of the heart attack.
While the three-story brick apartment building was destroyed in the fire, leaving forty residents homeless, firefighters successfully rescued twenty-five people from the burning building.
Funeral services for Ward were held at St. Margaret of Scotland Church on February 27, and he was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. He was survived by his widow, two children, his parents, and two siblings.
Citations:
“Lake Shore Fire Kills Woman, 43,” Chicago Tribune, January 14, 1971.
“Obituary of James P. Ward,” Chicago Tribune, February 26, 1971.
Firefighter and Incident Images
