Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Kevin Ward |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 56 to 60 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 8/28/2023 |
| Cause of Death | Caught/Trapped |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations , Hose operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 8/11/2023 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Basement fires , Fires |
Incident Summary
On August 28, 2023, Lieutenant Kevin P. Ward of the Chicago Fire Department died in the line of duty from injuries sustained in a house fire over two weeks prior.
On August 11, 2023, firefighters responded to a house fire in the 8300 block of West Balmoral Ave., near the O’Hare International Airport. A mayday call was issued around 4:30 PM for three injured firefighters, with one in critical condition and two in fair condition. Lieutenant Ward was in the basement of the home when he was critically injured. He was transferred to Loyola Medical Center for treatment where he would remain hospitalized until he died on August 28.
Funeral services for Ward were held at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, followed by a private interment. He was survived by his sister and father.
Ward, a 27-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, worked as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and rescue diver during his years of service.
Citations:
”Chicago Fire lieutenant dies weeks after Norwood Park blaze, officials say,” NBC Chicago, Aug. 29, 2023
Chicago Fire Media [@CFDMedia]. Joined May 2011, X, 11 Aug. 2023, x.com/CFDMedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
“Kevin P. Ward,” U.S. Fire Administration, Oct. 9, 2024
Todd Feurer, Sara Machi, and Mugo Odigwe, “Chicago Fire Lt. Kevin Ward laid to rest; ‘a man who cherished adventure, and discovered his true calling,’" CBS News, Sept. 13, 2023
Firefighter and Incident Images
