IFLODD: Firefighter Memorial


Firefighter Record

Firefighter Details

Name William Ball
Agency Chicago Fire Department
Rank Truckman
Type of Firefighter Career
Age Range [Unknown]
Sex Male
Date of Birth 0/0/0
Date of Death 1/2/1910
Cause of Death Contact/Exposure
Nature of Death Asphyxiation , Burns
Attribute of Death Smoke inhalation
Type of Duty Firefighting operations

Incident Details

Incident Name N/A
Incident City Chicago
Incident State IL
Incident Date 1/2/1910 21:0
Incident Location Store/Office
Incident Attribute Fires

Incident Summary

On January 2, 1910, Chicago Fire Department Truckman William G. Ball of Truck 1 died in the line of duty while fighting an industrial fire on South Wabash Avenue. The fire was discovered in the five-story building shortly after 9PM, and Truck 1 was the first fire company to arrive at the scene. Ball and other firefighters entered the burning building and were operating on the third floor when an officer realized that there were flames both above them and below them. The firefighters were ordered to retreat, but Ball, who was in the lead, became lost in the smoke and flames. Efforts to rescue Ball were unsuccessful, but after the fire was under control a battalion chief climbed the fire escape to the third floor and recovered his body.

Citations:

“Firemen in trap; smoke kills one,” Chicago Daily Tribune, January 3, 1910.


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