| Name | Frank Dinges |
| Agency | Belleville Fire Department |
| Rank | Chief |
| Type of Firefighter | [Unknown] |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 2/2/1876 |
| Date of Death | 12/1/1926 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | [Unknown] |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Post-incident |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Belleville |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 5/4/1926 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
On December 1st, 1926, Chief Frank R. Dinges of the Belleville Fire Department died in the line of duty from injuries sustained on May 4, 1926.
On May 4, 1926, the Belleville Fire Department companies were dispatched early in the morning when a fire was reported at a residence on the east side of the city.
Chief Frank Dinges came on the scene with the first engine company, and they were met with a rapidly growing fire. Seven members of the family were trapped inside. Chief Dinges entered the house immediately, and with the assistance of the fire companies, located and extracted the seven victims.
During this event, Chief Dinges was exposed to toxic, super-heated gases and developed a lung abscess. His injury worsened and he was hospitalized throughout the summer, but continued to lead the Belleville Fire Department.
On the morning of December 1st, 1926, Chief Dinges passed away after more than ten years of service to the Belleville Fire Department. His funeral took place at St. Peter’s Cathedral, where a requiem high mass was read, and he was interred in Green Mount Cemetary. Chief Dinges was survived by his widow and two children.
Citations:
“Chief Frank R. Dinges,” Belleville Daily News Democrat, December 1, 1926.
“Burned to Death Saving Children,” Carbondale Free Press, December 2, 1926.