Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Albert Shanks |
| Agency | Danville Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | [Unknown] |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 2/17/1915 |
| Cause of Death | Fall , Struck by object |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations , Hose operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Danville |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 2/17/1915 3:30 |
| Incident Location | Public assembly |
| Incident Attribute | Structural collapses , Fires |
Incident Summary
On February 17, 1915, Firefighters Albert H. Holmes and Albert F. Shanks of the Danville Fire Department died in the line of duty while fighting a fire at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall on North Vermilion Street.
Holmes and Shanks were killed when a wall collapsed while they were standing on a second story fire escape directing a hose stream through a window. Four other firefighters were injured in the collapse, and five workers were injured in a second collapse on February 19 while cleaning up debris from the fire.
A joint funeral service for Holmes and Shanks was held at the First Methodist Church on February 19. Holmes was interred at Springhill Cemetery, and Shanks was interred at Greenwood Cemetery. In honor of the fallen firefighters, businesses and factories throughout Danville were encouraged to close during the funeral processions.
Citations:
“Dual Funeral For the Dead Firemen Planned,” Commercial-News, February 18, 1915.
“Firemen Funeral Friday Afternoon,” Commercial-News, February 19, 1915.
Firefighter and Incident Images
