Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | William Mayer |
| 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 | 8/28/1905 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations , Search and rescue operations |
Incident Summary
On August 28, 1905, Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant William M. Mayer of Engine 79 died in the line of duty while fighting a barn fire on North Clark Street. Engine 79 was the first fire company on the scene, and Mayer rushed into the burning barn after spectators mistakenly informed him that the barn foreman’s family was trapped in their residence on the third floor of the structure. Mayer was overcome by smoke while searching for the family, and his body was recovered by fellow firefighters several minutes after he entered the building.
Citations:
“Fireman Killed at a Fire in Trying to Save Family,” Chicago Daily Tribune, August 29, 1905.
Firefighter and Incident Images
