Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Paul Siltman |
| Agency | Quincy Fire Department |
| Rank | Engineer |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 36 to 40 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 10/6/1925 |
| Date of Death | 3/25/1970 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firehouse duties , Post-incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Quincy |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 3/25/1970 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
Paul Siltman was born in Forest City, Illinois, on October 6, 1925. During World War II, he served in the United Stated Air Force. He came to Quincy in 1954 and joined the fire department one year later.
On Wednesday, March 25, 1970, a fire was reported shortly after 12 PM at a residence at 524 Payson Avenue. Many firefighters battled the blaze, but the fire gutted three upstairs bedrooms and two downstairs rooms before it was extinguished. During overhaul operations after the fire, Engineer Siltman collapsed while chopping a hole in the floor of a burned out room. He was rushed to Blessing Hospital but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Siltman had been a member of the fire department for almost 15 years and was the engineer of Pumper #5 at 12th and Jackson. He was 44 years old and was survived by his wife and four children.
Summary by James Pioch, Quincy Fire Department.
Citations:
"156 Years of Smoke, Sweat, and Courage: The History of the Quincy Fire Department" by Marcia Kuhlman Cray
Firefighter and Incident Images
