Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | John Spencer |
| Agency | Quincy Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 51 to 55 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 2/17/1937 |
| Date of Death | 4/14/1991 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations , Post-incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Quincy |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 4/14/1991 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
John Spencer was born February 17, 1937. He joined the Quincy Fire Department on May 1, 1969 and wore badge #35. “Spence,” as he was often called, was assigned to Engine #2 out of Central Fire Station. His character was described with words like, “easy-going, positive, dedicated, happy-go-lucky, tireless worker, and meticulous.” John was a man you could depend on.
On April 14, 1991, an alarm came in for a house fire at 725 N. 5th Street. Firefighter Spencer was a member of one of the initial companies to respond to the blaze. The crews arrived within minutes and fought and extinguished the fire. During overhaul operations, the strain and exertion took its toll and Spencer suffered a fatal heart attack.
Spencer was 54 years old and was a 21-year veteran of the fire department. He was survived by his wife, his mother, and his son.
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
