Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | John Naperala |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 51 to 55 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 2/22/1940 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 2/22/1940 |
| Incident Location | Industry/ Manufacturing |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On February 22, 1940, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter John Naperala of Truck 28 died in the line of duty while fighting a fire at the Lamkin Leather Company on North Damen Avenue. The fire started when a pot of wax boiled over and spread flames to containers of resin that then exploded. Naperala was overcome by smoke and chemical fumes while on the third floor of the building and collapsed. He was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Funeral services for Naperala were held at St. Priscilla’s Church on February 26, and he was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Citations:
“Fireman Dies of Smoke Fumes in $1,500 Blaze,” Chicago Daily Tribune, February 23, 1940.
Obituary of John Naperala, Chicago Daily Tribune, February 25, 1940.
Firefighter and Incident Images
