Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | William Quinn |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 41 to 45 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 2/13/1971 |
| Cause of Death | Struck by object |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 2/13/1971 |
| Incident Location | Store/Office |
| Incident Attribute | Structural collapses , Explosions , Fires |
Incident Summary
On February 13, 1971, two Chicago Fire Department firefighters were killed in the line of duty while operating at a fire on N. Elston Avenue. Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer, both of the 2nd Battalion, were fighting a fire inside the building housing A. A. Englebart, Inc., a heating control and appliance dealer, when an explosion erupted and the one-story building collapsed. Five other firefighters and four civilians were injured in the explosion and collapse.
Firefighters were battling flames in the rear of the building when the explosion occurred. Some of the firefighters were blown out of the building by the explosion, and one firefighter reported that the force of the blast blew off some of his gear. The explosion demolished most of the building, scattering debris into the streets and neighboring apartments, and civilians more than one block away were treated for cuts from flying glass.
Citations:
“2 Firemen Killed by Blast, Nine Hurt on N.W. Side,” Chicago Tribune, February 14, 1971.
“Arson Probe Scheduled,” Chicago Tribune, February 15, 1971.
“Club Aids Firemen’s Kin,” Chicago Tribune, February 16, 1971.
“Final Rites for Firemen,” Chicago Tribune, February 17, 1971.
Firefighter and Incident Images
