Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Charles McClaughry |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Captain |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 61 to 70 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 6/12/1944 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion , Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack , Heat exhaustion |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Post-incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 6/12/1944 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | Basement fires , Fires |
Incident Summary
On June 12, 1944, Chicago Fire Department Captain Charles McClaughry of Truck 33 collapsed at the firehouse after fighting a basement fire in a rooming house on South Ashland Avenue. McClaughry and ten other firefighters had been overcome by smoke while fighting the 3-11 alarm blaze, but had remained on scene until the fire was extinguished.
McClaughry had been with the department for 38 years, and had been a captain for 22 years. He responded to the fire as acting chief of Battalion 21.
Funeral services for McClaughry were held on June 15, and he was survived by a daughter and five sisters.
Citations:
“Fire Captain Succumbs After Battling Blaze,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 13, 1944.
Obituary of Capt. Charles M. McClaughry, Chicago Daily Tribune, June 14, 1944.
Firefighter and Incident Images
