Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | George Beale |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 4/16/1946 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 4/16/1946 |
| Incident Location | Industry/ Manufacturing |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On April 16, 1946, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter George Beale of Tower 1 collapsed while fighting a 4-11 fire at a factory on 19th Street. He was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a heart attack.
The fire caused $50,000 in damage, and the flames from the fire shot fifty feet into the air, sent up a 1,000 foot column of smoke, and attracted 10,000 spectators. Firefighters responding to the alarm also sought to contain the fire’s flying embers from igniting neighboring houses, and to prevent the flames from spreading to the adjacent three-story building. Suburban trains were delayed by hose lines across nearby tracks.
Funeral services for Beale were held in Holy Rosary Church on April 19, and he was survived by his widow and two brothers.
Citations:
“$50,000 Damage in 4-11 Blaze on Southwest Side,” Chicago Daily Tribune, April 17, 1946.
Obituary of George P. Beale, Chicago Daily Tribune, April 18, 1946.
Firefighter and Incident Images
