Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
Twenty-five years ago, Anthony Lockhart and Patrick King died in a four-alarm fire in the South Side neighborhood of Beverly.
On Sunday, friends and family remembered the two fallen heroes.
An auto repair shop caught fire in 1998. The building collapsed as the fire escalated quickly. Fire officials at the time said there was only substantial smoke coming out.
That was before it got much worse with flames bursting out. As crews escaped, they realized Lockhart and King never made it out. Their colleagues are now left with vivid memories of them.
A park on South Western was built and named after King and Lockhart.
It’s a memorial that people pass by every single day. Loved ones remember the two heroes every time they see it.
Lockhart’s family said they’re appreciative of the Chicago Fire Department for its commitment to never forget. And, King’s wife said it’s a loss that changed their family forever, but moments like Sunday’s in this community keep her going.
#1 by Drew Smith on February 15, 2023 - 3:38 PM
RIP brothers.
This was one of the first few LODDs which NIOSH produced a report on.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face9805.pdf
The 1998 USFA LODD report stated:
2/11/98
Patrick Joseph King, Firefighter Paramedic, Age 40
Anthony E. Lockhart, Firefighter, Age 40
Career
Chicago Fire Department, Illinois
Firefighter King and Firefighter Lockhart responded on different companies to a report of a structural fire in a tire shop. No visible fire was encountered, there was no excessive heat, and only light smoke was found in most of the building with heavier smoke in the shop area. Ten firefighters were in the interior of the structure when an event that has been described as a flashover or backdraft occurred. The firefighters were disoriented by the effects of the backdraft. Some were able to escape but Firefighter King and Firefighter Lockhart were trapped in the structure. A garage door that self-operated due to fire exposure may have introduced oxygen into the fire area and may have been a factor in the backdraft. The exit efforts of firefighters were complicated by congestion in the building. Within minutes of the backdraft, the building was completely involved in fire and rescue efforts were impossible. Both firefighters died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to inhalation of smoke and soot. Further information related to this incident can be found in NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation 98-F-05.
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/firefighter-fatalities-1998.pdf
#2 by BMurphy on February 14, 2023 - 7:53 PM
Indeed a tragic incident, one that I still occasionally recall. For some time afterward the burned-out hulk of the building stood and from the street, if you were familiar with the events surrounding the incident, the holes breached in an exterior brick wall made in the frantic attempt for rescue were clearly visible. It was a sad and sobering reminder of the aftermath of the incident. As noted by Mike, there were significant and long-standing safety and operational deficiencies which contributed to the tragedy, some of which have been addressed and resulted in a safer fireground not just for CFD members but firefighters everywhere. We must continually evaluate our tactics, our failures and successes, and change and modify and learn. This is the best and most lasting memorial to those lost on that day.
#3 by Mike on February 13, 2023 - 5:56 PM
This fire was an eye opener. This was pre RIT. Also at the time only 2 portable radios were issued per company. 1 for the officer and 1 for the roof team on the trucks and 1 for the hydrant man on the engine. Most of the time the 2nd radio was in the lock box on the apparatus because if you broke it or lost it you paid for the replacement. The guys on the roof were not able to get the message of the fire above down to the guys inside fast enough. The guys inside reported it smelled like an auto burning inside. Also nobody has been able to recreate this but the overhead door activated and when it open it made a big vent hole that fed this and the fire took off. Guys said it was raining fire inside. Pat was found just inside the repair area and Tony was found towards the back of the building. A lot was learned from this incident. RIP Pat & Tony.