Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | William Perry |
| Agency | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 41 to 45 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 11/25/1917 |
| Date of Death | 12/26/1958 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion , Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Cerebrovascular accident/Stroke |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Search and rescue operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Highland Park |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 12/26/1958 8:11 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Basement fires , Fires |
Incident Summary
On December 26, 1958, Lieutenant William Perry, a fifteen year veteran of the Highland Park Fire Department, died in the line of duty after helping to rescue a family from their burning home.
The Highland Park Fire Department responded to the fire on Elmwood Drive after a mother reported that she and her two daughters were trapped in their home by smoke. Arriving on scene, firefighters rushed into the house to rescue the family from the burning house, and Perry carried the mother to safety from the second floor. Perry became ill shortly thereafter, and he was transported to Highland Park Hospital. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead from a cerebral hemorrhage later that day.
Funeral services for Perry were held at the Highland Park American Legion Home on December 30, and he was buried at Northshore Garden of Memories Cemetery. Perry was survived by his widow, seven children, two grandchildren, his mother, and seven siblings, and a memorial fund was established for his family at the Bank of Highland Park.
Firefighter and Incident Images
