Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
On Thursday morning, Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick King and Firefighter Anthony Lockhart – who died fighting a fire on Feb. 11, 1998 – were recalled at the scene of their deaths. They died fighting a fire in the Beverly Tire Store when the roof collapsed. That site is now home to a park named for the men and that’s where the King Lockhart Memorial Statue was dedicated on a bitterly cold morning.
King’s widow, Gina … her thoughts are seldom far from what happened that night at 10615 S. Western Ave. “It seems like it happened last month. Time, they say, heals all wounds. That’s not true,” said Gina, who still wears a necklace bearing a smaller version of her husband’s badge, No. 1407.
Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago called the statue and park reminders “that despite the training and the best equipment available at the time, things can go wrong and do go wrong. This is a dangerous job. We strive to have everyone go home safely. It doesn’t always work out that way. Some described this fire as a routine alarm, but we in the fire service know nothing is routine in this job. There are many places in this city where firefighters lost their lives. This land is unique because it became a park.”
… the park has walking paths and a couple benches – along with bronze boots where each man’s body was found –
The statue by sculptor Marshall Svendsen serves as “a reminder of what firefighters and paramedics are all about. It’s not about them, it’s about others,” said the Rev. Thomas Mulcrone, chaplain of the Chicago Fire Department.
thanks Dan
#1 by spoung45 on February 15, 2015 - 10:55 PM
here is the NIOSH report on it… http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9805.html
#2 by Mike mc on February 15, 2015 - 10:09 PM
Bob: Google the illinois fire service institute http://www.fsi.illinois... (don’t remember the rest of the email address) and click the memorial page. Then enter Chicago and 1998. In addition to their summary, you can also access the niosh report at that site.
It was terrible luck. I am going by memory so forgive me if I am not 100% accurate on the details. They thought they extinguished a small fire (the chief held the command van) and when they opened one of the loading dock doors for ventilation suddenly the ceiling more or less flashed and burning insulation poured down on the FFs. It was a classic example of a how a routine event can quickly change to a deadly tragedy.
#3 by Bob on February 14, 2015 - 2:54 PM
Does anybody have anything regarding this incident? I live 4 blocks from this sight and I remember listening to it on the scanner as a kid when it was happening. I can’t seem to find any Audio or photographs of the 4-11 on the Internet. Thanks.