Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Leo Schmitt |
| Agency | Quincy Fire Department |
| Rank | Engineer |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 12/25/1899 |
| Date of Death | 6/4/1949 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firehouse duties |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Quincy |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 6/4/1949 |
| Incident Location | Firehouse |
| Incident Attribute | [Not applicable] |
Incident Summary
Leo Schmitt was born on December 25, 1899, and was a life-long resident of Quincy, Illinois. On Saturday, June 4, 1949, Leo Schmitt reported to work as scheduled. After relieving his counterpart on the outgoing duty shift, Leo first checked the fire engine to which he was assigned to be sure that it was in working order. He then began to perform routine station duties with his fellow firefighters, but collapsed within minutes. The department’s doctor was summoned and Schmitt was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital. He had suffered a heart attack and he died shortly after being admitted to the hospital.
Schmitt had been a member of the Quincy Fire Department for 16 years and was assigned to the 2nd platoon. As the engineer of Pumper #3 out of Central Fire Station, he was considered one of the best drivers on the department. Fire Chief George Simon and fellow firefighters had the highest praise for his ability as a firefighter. He was 49 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife Mildred and three 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
