Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Joseph Home |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Driver |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 10/3/1888 |
| Cause of Death | Struck by vehicle , Thrown from vehicle |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Emergency vehicle operations , Responding to/returning from incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 10/3/1888 22:0 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road |
| Incident Attribute | Traffic accidents |
Incident Summary
On October 3, 1888, Chicago Fire Department Driver Joseph R. Home of Engine 30 died in the line of duty while responding to a fire on Washtenaw Avenue. Around 10PM, Home was driving Engine 30 when the front wheels of the fire engine struck a switch in the streetcar tracks at the intersection of Ashland and Milwaukee Avenues. The engine turned suddenly, and Home was thrown into the street, where he was crushed by the engine wheels. He was transported to a nearby drugstore, where a doctor pronounced him dead.
Citations:
“A City Fireman Crushed to Death,” Chicago Daily Tribune, October 4, 1888.
Firefighter and Incident Images
