Visitation held for fallen Chicago firefighter: 'It's a sad day'

Firefighters from Kentucky, Boston and Baltimore were among the scores of uniformed men and women who showed up to pay their respects to David Meyer’s family.
By Emmanuel Camarillo
Apr 28, 2025, 8:30pm CDT




Scores of firefighters paid their respects to David Meyer at his visitation services at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave, in Norwood Park.

When Mary Fabianski heard about the line-of-duty death of a Chicago firefighter last week, she recognized David Meyer’s name.

Fabianski realized that Fire Captain Meyer had done some remodeling work in her kitchen about 10 years ago through his side business.

“He was easy to work with, and he had a very small crew with him,” Fabianski said. “He was a very nice man, very nice.”

Though her interaction with Meyer was brief, his warm personality left a mark. On Monday, Fabianski joined hundreds of others who paid their respects at Meyer’s visitation held in Norwood Park on the Northwest Side.

“It’s a sad day,” Fabianski said.

The line to get in to Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave, stretched out the door and down the street before public visitation began at 3 p.m. Private services for the family were held earlier Monday.



Hundreds paid their respects to David Meyer at his visitation services at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave, in Norwood Park.

Firefighters from Kentucky, Boston and Baltimore were among the scores of uniformed men and women who showed up. A massive American flag hung from the outstretched ladder of a fire truck, billowing in the heavy gusts.

Red ribbons were tied around nearly every light pole, tree and street sign near the funeral home on Milwaukee Avenue in honor of Meyer and his family.

Fabianski, who lives in Jefferson Park, tied some of those ribbons herself. She and other residents put up the ribbons on Sunday. It was their small way of showing Meyer’s family they aren’t alone, she said.

“I just can’t imagine what they’re feeling,” Fabianski said. “He was a good man. I feel for the family.”



Chicago Firefighter Captain David Meyer died in the line of duty fighting a garage fire in the 5000 block of West Crystal Street on April 23, 2025.


Chicago Fire Department

Meyer died April 23 after being called to a garage fire around 4 a.m. in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street. Meyer had entered the burning garage in the Austin neighborhood when the roof collapsed on him. Investigators said the blaze was caused by ignition of contents in a trash bin “by human action.”

Charles K. Green, who lives near the scene of the fire, has been charged with aggravated arson and murder. He appeared in court Saturday, where Judge Antara Nath Rivera ordered Green be held in custody.

More than half the people in the courtroom were Chicago firefighters and paramedics, along with Meyer’s family members, Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

Erik Steinmetz, vice president of Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2, said that show of support was important not only for Meyer’s family but also for the firefighters themselves.

“I think it’s important therapy for our members, to be part of that process,” Steinmetz said. “We are going to stick together and hopefully be stronger from this. In the meantime, we’ll grieve.”

Steinmetz said Meyer, who joined the department in 1996, was a great example for the people he led.

“He was a great captain, a great fireman, gave his all and was really dedicated to his job and the people that he served,” Steinmetz said. “He really is the prime example of what you want to be if you were a firefighter.”

Meyer is survived by his parents, his wife and four children.

Meyer’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8305 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles.





Firefighters and mourners pay their respects to Captain David Meyer during his wake at Malec & Sons Funeral Home located at 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Norwood Park neighborhood, Monday, April 28, 2025.