Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Raymond Cook |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 36 to 40 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 3/29/1939 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Burns |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 3/28/1939 |
| Incident Location | Industry/ Manufacturing |
| Incident Attribute | Explosions , Backdrafts , Fires |
Incident Summary
On March 28, 1939, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter Raymond Cook of Squad 10 was fatally injured in the line of duty while fighting a fire at the Berger Brothers, Inc., charcoal yard on Cherry Street. The fire started in a corrugated steel charcoal storage building, and firefighters were protecting an exposure building from the flames when a watchman for the company opened a hopper into the steel building. The rush of air ignited the charcoal dust in the building, and massive flames exploded out of the doors and windows. Nine firefighters, including Cook, and the watchman, were burned by the explosion and hospitalized at three area hospitals. Cook succumbed to his injuries the following day, March 29, at Alexian Brothers Hospital.
Citations:
“Ten Are Burned as Fire Sweeps Charcoal Yard,” Chicago Daily Tribune, March 29, 1939.
“Fireman Enveloped in Flames Dies from Burns; 7 Recovering,” Chicago Daily Tribune, March 30, 1939.
Firefighter and Incident Images
