| Name: | John O'Brien |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2008 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2006 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Firefighter John O’Brien of the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 117 was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to rescue an eight-year-old boy from a residential fire in Chicago, Illinois on October 20, 2006.
Engine 117 arrived at 1145 N. Central Ave. in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood at 12:30 a.m. to find a one-and-a-half story house on fire, reportedly started by a space heater. While six people managed to escape the fire, the eight-year-old boy whose mattress was set on fire by the space heater remained trapped in the attic bedroom. Firefighters doused the attic with water while others broke windows to provide ventilation.
Once the fire had been contained, Firefighter O’Brien entered the house through the front door. It was still filled with smoke and noxious gases, which practically eliminated all visibility. A fellow firefighter with thermal imaging equipment noticed a mattress in the boy’s bedroom. O’Brien reached behind the mattress to find the boy hiding there, gasping for air in the smoky attic. O’Brien removed him from danger, giving him air as they exited the house. The boy was subsequently treated for smoke inhalation and recovered fully.
Citations:
“Boy stuck in smoky fire saved,” Chicago Tribune, October 21, 2006.
“Chicago Police and Fire Departments give heroism awards,” Chicago Tribune, October 10, 2007.
“Ford honors firefighter for rescue: State representative-elect honors O’Brien for saving a boy’s life,” Austin Weekly News, December 6, 2006.