Name | Brian Carey |
Agency | Homewood Fire Department |
Rank | Firefighter |
Type of Firefighter | Career |
Age Range | 26 to 30 |
Sex | Male |
Date of Birth | 7/28/1981 |
Date of Death | 3/30/2010 |
Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
Nature of Death | Asphyxiation , Burns |
Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
Type of Duty | Search and rescue operations |
Incident Name | N/A |
Incident City | Homewood |
Incident State | IL |
Incident Date | 3/30/2010 21:0 |
Incident Location | Residential |
Incident Attribute | Fires |
On March 30, 2010, Firefighter Brian Colin Carey of the Homewood Fire Department died in the line of duty during search and rescue operations at a residential fire.
Homewood firefighters were dispatched to the fire around 9PM, and Carey was among the first firefighters on scene. Upon arriving at the home, firefighters learned from an elderly, female resident who had escaped the fire that her partially paralyzed husband was trapped inside the house. Carey and other firefighters entered the structure in an attempt to rescue the homeowner, but Carey suffered fatal injuries when the fire intensified. Carey was transported to South Suburban Hospital with smoke inhalation and burn injuries, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The homeowner also died as a result of the fire, and another firefighter was hospitalized with burn injuries sustained inside the house.
Funeral services for Carey were held at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Evergreen Park on April 6, and he was interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. Hundreds of firefighters and police officers paid tribute to Carey during the funeral proceedings, and more than 200 emergency vehicles joined the funeral procession.
Carey joined the Homewood Fire Department as a part-time firefighter/paramedic in August 2008, and he was hired for a full-time position in December 2009. Carey’s lifelong dream was to become a firefighter, and he previously worked part-time at the Roberts Park Fire Protection District.
Citations:
“Rookie firefighter, homeowner killed in Homewood blaze,” Chicago Sun-Times, March 31, 2010.
“Rookie firefighter, paralyzed man killed in Homewood blaze,” Chicago Tribune, March 31, 2010.
“Tragic fire leaves two communities in mourning,” Southtown Star, April 1, 2010.
“Homewood grieves, reaches out to firefighters,” Southtown Star, April 2, 2010.
“Hundreds pay respects to fallen Homewood firefighter,” Chicago Tribune, April 6, 2010.
Additional Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201010.html