Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | James Fisher |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 41 to 45 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 1/1/1969 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations , Hose operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 1/1/1969 |
| Incident Location | Vacant property |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On January 1, 1969, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter James P. Fisher of Truck 47 died in the line of duty after he was trapped in a burning building during a fire on Clark Street. Fisher and several other firefighters were handling a hose line on the second floor of the building when their hose stopped working due to the subzero temperatures outside. The firefighters retreated as the flames erupted around them, but Fisher was unable to escape. Initial rescue attempts were hindered by the thick ice that coated the building, but firefighters were eventually able to retrieve Fisher’s body.
Citations:
“Fireman Lost in Blaze on Clark Street,” Chicago Tribune, January 1, 1969.
“Find Body of Fireman Killed Battling Clark Street Blaze,” Chicago Tribune, January 2, 1969.
Obituary of James P. Fisher, Chicago Tribune, January 3, 1969.
Firefighter and Incident Images
