Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | William Ball |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Truckman |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | [Unknown] |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 1/2/1910 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation , Burns |
| Attribute of Death | Smoke inhalation |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 1/2/1910 21:0 |
| Incident Location | Store/Office |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On January 2, 1910, Chicago Fire Department Truckman William G. Ball of Truck 1 died in the line of duty while fighting an industrial fire on South Wabash Avenue. The fire was discovered in the five-story building shortly after 9PM, and Truck 1 was the first fire company to arrive at the scene. Ball and other firefighters entered the burning building and were operating on the third floor when an officer realized that there were flames both above them and below them. The firefighters were ordered to retreat, but Ball, who was in the lead, became lost in the smoke and flames. Efforts to rescue Ball were unsuccessful, but after the fire was under control a battalion chief climbed the fire escape to the third floor and recovered his body.
Citations:
“Firemen in trap; smoke kills one,” Chicago Daily Tribune, January 3, 1910.
Firefighter and Incident Images
