4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 2-14-62
This message comes from Eric Haak:
The photos below capture the scene of a devastating fire that took place on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1962. The 4-11 Alarm fire broke out around 11:15 a.m. at 1365–75 East 70th Street in Chicago. About an hour and a half later, firefighters were inside the building on the third floor when the structure began to collapse around them. At approximately 12:45 p.m., Fire Commissioner Quinn ordered all personnel to evacuate as the roof started to sag. As the men were exiting, the west wall and roof suddenly collapsed, trapping three firefighters beneath the debris.
Chief Robert O’Brien, 52 years old, who was the head of the Fire Prevention Bureau, and Battalion Chief Thomas Hoff, 43, were buried under the rubble in the basement. Hoff’s driver, Edward Stack, was also caught in the collapse but managed to escape without serious injury by rolling through a first-floor doorway. An official investigation into the deaths of O’Brien and Hoff did not determine the exact cause of the fire, though it was initially believed to be due to a faulty furnace in the basement.
Interestingly, Chief O’Brien had a personal connection to Mayor Richard J. Daley, having grown up just five doors down from the Daley family on Lowe Street. This tragic event remains a somber chapter in Chicago's firefighting history, highlighting the dangers faced by those who serve on the front lines.
4-11 Alarm fire at 1365-75 East 70th Street in Chicago, February 14, 1962. Photographer known, from the collection of Eric Haak.
4-11 Alarm fire at 1365-75 East 70th Street in Chicago, February 14, 1962. Photographer known, from the collection of Eric Haak.
4-11 Alarm fire at 1365-75 East 70th Street in Chicago, February 14, 1962. Photographer known, from the collection of Eric Haak.
4-11 Alarm fire at 1365-75 East 70th Street in Chicago, February 14, 1962. Photographer known, from the collection of Eric Haak.
4-11 Alarm fire at 1365-75 East 70th Street in Chicago, February 14, 1962. Photographer known, from the collection of Eric Haak.
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