| Name: | Kevin Krasneck |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 1996 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 1994 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Firefighter Kevin Krasneck of the Chicago Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions to aid in the rescue of two children at a residential fire in Chicago, Illinois, on August 1, 1994.
Krasneck was off-duty at his Southwest Side home when the fire started in his neighborhood. A group of people in the area including Krasneck, off-duty police officer Raymond Schillaci, eighteen year-old Michael Eversole, and natural gas company employee Patrick Hogan noticed the fire break out in a one-story residence on 3711 W. 77th Place, and immediately leapt into action.
The fire started in the living room because of an electrical malfunction and quickly spread through the house. Krasneck told Eversole to use a garden hose to help cool down the bedroom where two children were trapped. Krasneck and Schillaci then entered the residence through a back bedroom window. Eversole stood by the window, helping direct Krasneck through the smoke. Unable to see through the dense smoke, Krasneck lowered himself to the ground and felt around for the two children. He found one boy in the bedroom and handed him to Eversole. He then continued his search and found another small boy in the hallway and rushed him to Eversole and Hogan, who were waiting outside the window. Three other residents sustained serious injuries in the blaze. Krasneck, along with the police officer and the gas company employee, were all treated for smoke inhalation.
Citations:4 men rescue 2 children in S.W. Side fire,
Chicago Sun-Times, August 2, 1994.
2 cops, firefighter earn tribute,
Chicago Sun-Times, October 11, 1995.