Name | John Donovan |
Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
Rank | Captain |
Type of Firefighter | Career |
Age Range | 56 to 60 |
Sex | Male |
Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
Date of Death | 10/10/1967 |
Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
Nature of Death | Heart attack |
Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
Type of Duty | Post-incident , Search and rescue operations |
Incident Name | N/A |
Incident City | Chicago |
Incident State | IL |
Incident Date | 10/10/1967 |
Incident Location | Residential |
Incident Attribute | Fires |
On October 10, 1967, Chicago Fire Department Captain John S. Donovan, the acting chief for Battalion 23, suffered a fatal heart attack in the line of duty. Donovan’s battalion responded to a fire in a three-story vacant building on Komensky Avenue, and one firefighter was overcome with smoke inhalation while battling the blaze. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, Donovan drove the firefighter to Mount Sinai Hospital in his own departmental vehicle. As he helped the injured firefighter into the hospital, Donovan collapsed from a heart attack, and doctors were unable to revive him.
Citations:
“Capt. Donovan, 60, Dies After Fighting Blaze,” Chicago Tribune, October 11, 1967.
William Granger, “Fire Captain Dies While Aiding Friend,” Chicago Tribune, October 12, 1967.