Why America Is Running Out of Fire Trucks

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

Funeral Arrangements for Captain Meyer

 

Monday 4/28 Wake – Malec & Sons Funeral Home – (6000 N Milwaukee) 1pm to 3pm private family visitation   3pm to 8pm Public visitation CFD Walk Thru – 7pm

Tuesday 4/29 Mass beginning at 10:00am - St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church (8305 N Harlem, Niles, IL)

Chicago Fire Capt. David Meyer R.I.P.

Chicago Fire Capt. David Meyer dies in Austin blaze investigated as arson

“He was a loyal member doing his job. It’s a dangerous job,” a Chicago Fire Department official said of Meyer, 54, a veteran firefighter who died after a garage fire on the West Side.
By Mohammad Samra
Updated Apr 23, 2025, 6:38pm CDT

After nearly 30 years with the Chicago Fire Department, Capt. David Meyer died fulfilling his passion Wednesday morning after a roofing beam fell on him during a blaze that officials are investigating as arson in Austin on the West Side, officials said.

The Office of Fire Investigation, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the fire was from ignition of contents in a trash bin “by human action.” Chicago police are investigating the blaze as a crime, adding a person of interest was in custody Wednesday evening but didn’t release additional information.

Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 said Meyer, 54, joined the department in October 1996.

“He spent most of his career on the West Side of Chicago in busy firehouses doing what he loved to do,” Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt told reporters at Stroger Hospital.


“He was a loyal member doing his job ... a dangerous job,” Patrick Cleary, president of Local 2, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Our condolences to his family and co-workers.”

Larry Langford, fire department spokesman, posted on X: “It’s a sad day for CFD and Chicago.”

Just after 4 a.m., Meyer was among those who responded to a garage fire in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street when the structure collapsed, Nance-Holt said.


“It had to be a roofing beam, there’s nothing there except a few cross beams in the roof, so something got him from above,” Langford said.

A mayday, signaling a firefighter in distress, was called and Meyer was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Nance-Holt said.

Dozens of colleagues and loved ones gathered at the Cook County medical examiner’s office to mourn and pay their respects to Meyer as his body was escorted in following a formal procession. He worked at Engine 96, 439 N. Waller Ave.

Meyer was the “rock of his family,” the fire commissioner said. He is survived by his parents, his wife, three daughters, a son and a “host of other friends and family,” Nance-Holt said.

Nance-Holt appeared to wipe away a tear as she spoke about Meyer’s death while noting the department reported no line-of-duty deaths in 2024.

“We got through last year, and now here we are again, thinking that we escaped that,” Nance-Holt said. “When you lose a brother or sister [in] the fire department, it’s life-changing. It’s a family member, it’s not just a co-worker.”

Prayers for this firefighter would be appreciated

Garage 'collapses' on firefighter battling Austin blaze
The firefighter was in critical condition Stroger Hospital after the garage fire in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street about 5:45 a.m., officials said.
By Sun-Times Wire
Updated Apr 23, 2025, 6:25am CDT




A firefighter was critically injured in a fire April 23, 2025 in Austin on the West Side.

A roofing beam fell onto a firefighter, critically injuring him during a garage blaze early Wednesday in Austin on the West Side.

The fire broke out sometime before 5 a.m. in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street and as fire crews battled the fire, the roof of the garage collapsed onto one of the firefighters, Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said.

“It had to be a roofing beam, there’s nothing there except a few cross beams in the roof so something got him from above,” Langford said.

MAJOR FIRE!! Roseland/Chicago

Live Stream - Michaelmas - Blue Mass for First Responders (2002 Missal) ...

Off-duty Chicago police officer held at gunpoint, carjacked on South Side

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the officer was rescued by on-duty firefighters returning from a run

Prayers for two retired St. Cajetan teachers injured in crash!

CHICAGO - A car crash in Morgan Park injured four people, two of them seriously, Sunday evening on Chicago's South Side.

Around 7:20 p.m., a woman was driving a Honda SUV northbound in the 10700 block of South Western Avenue when she made a left turn and was hit by a Chevrolet SUV, according to police.

Two of the Honda's passengers, a male and a female, were taken by paramedics to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious condition. The driver of the Honda was transported to Little Company of Mary Medical Center in fair condition. The final passenger in Honda was also transported Advocate Christ Medical Center in fair condition.

There were no reported injuries from the Chevrolet SUV.

Chicago's iconic Palace Grill damaged by overnight fire

 

Palace Grill, one of a kind joint
By Joanie Lum and FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published February 9, 2024 5:59AM

Palace Grill, an iconic Chicago diner, went up in flames overnight, erasing 80 years of memorabilia.

CHICAGO - Palace Grill, a beloved diner on Chicago's Near West Side, was damaged in a fire Thursday night.

The fire started around 10 p.m. hours after the kitchen had closed at 1408 W. Madison St. Firefighters had to open up the roof and the ceiling to get water on the fire. The restaurant suffered "extensive" interior damage, fire officials said.

Chicago Firefighter Killed On Duty

                         Andrew Price R.I.P.

Chicago firefighter dies weeks after being injured in fire at home near O’Hare

Lt. Kevin Ward, 59, died at Loyola Medical Center, where he was taken from the fire in the 8300 block of West Balmoral Avenue on Aug. 11, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
By Sun-Times staff

Chicago Fire Lt. Kevin Ward

A Chicago firefighter has died more than two weeks after he and two others were injured while battling a fire in a home near O’Hare International Airport.

Lt. Kevin Ward, 59, died at Loyola Medical Center, where he was taken from the fire in the 8300 block of West Balmoral Avenue on Aug. 11, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

“He was surrounded by family as he made his transition,” the department said in a tweet.

Chicago FD: "Move your car over, this ain't Arkansas"

CFD lieutenant dies battling high-rise blaze on Lake Shore Drive, 2nd firefighter to die in line of duty this week

Lt. Jan Tchoryk was taken to the hospital in “very critical” condition and later died. On Tuesday, firefighter Jermaine Pelt died battling a house fire on the South Side.
By Sophie Sherry, Mitch Dudek, Catherine Odom and Stefano Esposito
Updated Apr 5, 2023, 7:36pm CDTTwitter



Firefighters at the scene of a high-rise fire in the 1200 block or North Lake Shore Drive on Wednesday morning.

A Chicago Fire Department lieutenant died battling an extra-alarm blaze in a high-rise building on Wednesday morning near the Gold Coast neighborhood — the second firefighter to die in the line of duty this week.

Chicago Firefighter killed, 2 others hurt at extra-alarm fire in West Pullman

The fire in the 12000 block of South Wallace Street spread to two other houses.
By Sophie Sherry and Mohammad Samra




Chicago firefighters salute the motorcade bringing firefighter Jermaine Pelt to the Cook County medical examiner’s office on Tuesday.

A firefighter was killed and two others were hurt early Tuesday while working to put out an extra-alarm fire in the West Pullman neighborhood.

Massive fire sweeps through furniture factory in Chicago Heights. No sprinkler system.

Despite the negative TV story, CFD did a great job and saved lives

 

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  Chicago, Section 8, high-rise fire kills 1, leaves building partially uninhabitable

By Simon Druker

One person is dead and investigators are looking into the cause of a fire at a high-rise apartment building in Chicago Wednesday morning. Photo courtesy of Chicago Fire Department

Jan. 25 (UPI) -- One person is dead and nine injured after a fire at a high-rise apartment building in Chicago Wednesday morning left officials searching for its cause.

Authorities said the injured included one firefighter. The extra-alarm fire affected multiple floors in the building before the blaze was extinguished in the city's Kenwood neighborhood.

Go Fund Me for Tim Eiland

CHICAGO OFF DUTY FIRE FIGHTER WITH 5 CHILDREN, SHOT FUNDRAISER

Michelle M Eiland is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Robert Eiland.
Greetings, we are the parents (Robert Eiland Sr and Michelle Eiland) of Timothy Eiland the off duty Chicago Fire Fighter who was shot in the face during a mass shooting in the West Pullman area in Chicago, IL on September 11, 2021. Our family is asking for support for these unexpected expenses from this tragic circumstance. While at a celebration for our grandson's birthday party, our son, granddaughter and family friends were shot with one fatality. Our son was in critical condition and is stabilizing now. There are multiple procedures that he will need during his recovery process. Timothy is the sole provider for his family (wife and 5 children). We are asking for your assistance at this difficult time

Chicago firefighter dies days after being critically injured in Belmont Central fire

A procession for MaShawn Plummer was planned for later Tuesday. 

By Sun-Times Wire Dec 21, 2021, 3:24pm CST


MaShawn Plummer Chicago Fire Department


A Chicago firefighter critically injured in an apartment fire in Belmont Central last week has died.

MaShawn Plummer, who had been a firefighter for just a year,

Chicago firefighter injured in Belmont Central apartment blaze remains in ‘very critical’ condition

“Please keep him in your prayers,” Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry