Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Michael Lynch |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Battalion Chief |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 51 to 55 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 12/22/1960 |
| Cause of Death | Fall |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firehouse duties |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 12/22/1960 |
| Incident Location | Firehouse |
| Incident Attribute | Firehouse accidents , False alarms |
Incident Summary
On December 22, 1960, Chicago Fire Department Chief Michael J. Lynch of Battalion 10 died in the line of duty while responding to a fire alarm. A thirty-four year veteran of the department, Lynch was on the second floor of the firehouse on Calumet Avenue when an alarm was called in. Lynch raced toward the fire pole, but tripped on the trap door and fell fifteen feet through the hole to the concrete floor below. He was transported to Michael Reese Hospital, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Funeral services for Lynch were held at St. Basil’s Roman Church on December 27, 1960, and he was interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. He was survived by his widow and five children.
Citations:
“Chief Misses Fire Pole and Falls to Death,” Chicago Daily Tribune, December 23, 1960.
“Mass on Tuesday for Fire Battalion Head Killed in Fall,” Chicago Daily Tribune, December 24, 1960.
”Chief Lynch Dies in Fall,” Chicago Fire Fighter, March 1961.
Firefighter and Incident Images
