IFLODD: Firefighter Memorial


Firefighter Record

Firefighter Details

Name Christopher Wheatley
Agency Chicago Fire Department
Rank Firefighter
Type of Firefighter Career
Age Range 31 to 35
Sex Male
Date of Birth 7/7/1979
Date of Death 8/9/2010
Cause of Death Fall
Nature of Death Trauma
Attribute of Death [not applicable]
Type of Duty Firefighting operations , Ladder operations

Incident Details

Incident Name N/A
Incident City Chicago
Incident State IL
Incident Date 8/9/2010 0:30
Incident Location Public assembly
Incident Attribute Fires

Incident Summary

On August 9, 2010, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Christopher Wheatley of Engine 5/Truck 2, died in the line of duty while fighting a restaurant fire on W. Randolph Street.

The grease fire started in a kitchen ventilation chute, and firefighters attacked the flames from the building’s roof. Wheatley was carrying 75 pounds of firefighting equipment up a fire escape ladder to the roof when he fell 35 feet to the ground below. He was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he succumbed to his fatal injuries.

Funeral services for Wheatley were held at St. John Fisher Church on August 13, and he was interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. Thousands of firefighters from at least twelve states attended the services.

Wheatley had been a paramedic since 2000, and became a firefighter/paramedic in 2008.

Citations:

William Lee, Kristen Schorsch, and Andrew L. Wang, “Chicago firefighter falls from ladder, dies of injuries,” Chicago Tribune, August 9, 2010.

Kara Spak, Sally Ho, Rosemary Sobol, Ben Meyer-Abbott, and Tina Sfondeles, “Fallen firefighter ‘loved the job,” Chicago Sun-Times, August 10, 2010.

Duaa Eldeib, “Thousands mourn Chicago firefighter,” Chicago Tribune, August 13, 2010.

Maudlyne Ihejirika, “Firefighter’s funeral: ‘He loved this city,’” Chicago Sun-Times, August 13, 2010.

Additional Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201025.html


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