| Name: | Michael Kappel |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2014 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2012 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Michael Kappel was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a house fire while off-duty on November 26, 2012.
Kappel was driving in his neighborhood in Jefferson Park when he smelled smoke and saw a two-story home on fire. The house and yard were filled with clutter and animals. Kappel made his way through the backyard, pulling cats and dogs out of the burning home. He broke in the back door with no protective gear and found a man on fire inside the home. Kappel knocked him to the ground, rolling him around until the flames were extinguished. The victim was badly burned. Kappel was able to get him and many of the animals out of the home.
Citations:
Quinn Ford, “Off-Duty Firefighter in Street Clothes Saves Burning Man, Seven Dogs,” DNAInfo, October 9, 2013.