Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Thomas S. Fitzgerald |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 31 to 35 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 7/22/1936 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Electrocution |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 7/22/1936 |
| Incident Location | [Unknown] |
| Incident Attribute | Electrical hazards , Fires |
Incident Summary
On July 22, 1936, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter Thomas S. Fitzgerald of Engine 53 died in the line of duty while fighting a fire on West 46th Street. Fitzgerald was electrocuted when he stepped on a high tension electrical wire that was submerged in a puddle of standing water. He was not wearing rubber boots.
Funeral services for Fitzgerald were held on July 25, 1936 at St. Charles Church, and he was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery. He was survived by his father and five siblings.
Citations:
“Fireman Electrocuted Accidentally, Jury Finds,” Chicago Daily Tribune, July 23, 1936.
Obituary of Thomas S. Fitzgerald, Chicago Daily Tribune, July 24, 1936.
Firefighter and Incident Images
