Introduction to the Tragic Event
After nearly 30 years with the Chicago Fire Department, Capt. David Meyer died “doing what he loved to do” Wednesday morning after a roofing beam fell on him during a garage blaze in Austin on the West Side, an emotional fire commissioner told reporters.
The Career of Capt. David Meyer
“He spent most of his career on the West Side of Chicago in busy firehouses doing what he loved to do,” Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt told reporters Wednesday morning at Stroger Hospital. Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 said Meyer, 54, joined the department in October 1996.
Reaction from the Fire Department and Union
“He was a loyal member doing his job … a dangerous job,” Patrick Cleary, president of Local 2, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Our condolences to his family and co-workers.” Larry Langford, fire department spokesman, said he was assigned to Truck 29 located the station at 3509 S. Lowe. “It’s a sad day for CFD and Chicago,” Langford posted on X.
The Incident and Aftermath
Just after 4 a.m., Meyer was among those who responded to a garage fire in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street when the garage collapsed, Nance-Holt said. “It had to be a roofing beam, there’s nothing there except a few cross beams in the roof, so something got him from above,” Langford said. A Mayday, signaling a firefighter in distress, was called and Meyer was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Nance-Holt said. The cause of the fire was unknown, she added.
Mourning and Paying Respects
Dozens of colleagues and loved ones gathered at the Cook County medical examiner’s office to mourn and pay their respects to Meyer as his body was escorted in following a formal procession. Meyer was the “rock of his family” and was a good builder, the fire commissioner said. He is survived by his parents as well as his wife, three daughters, a son and a “host of other friends and family,” Nance-Holt said.
An ambulance carrying the body of fallen Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer travels during a procession to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Meyer, 54, died Wednesday morning after a roofing beam fell on him during a garage blaze in Austin on the West Side.
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Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Reaction from Mayor Brandon Johnson
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who also delivered remarks during the media briefing, called Wednesday morning “a solemn morning for the City of Chicago.” “We mourn collectively together, asking that the people of Chicago pray without ceasing for the Meyer family [and] for the fire department,” Johnson said. “Capt. David Meyer really embodies and embodied what it meant to be a true Chicagoan and public servant. A hero, courageous, brave, bold.” Johnson added that the Meyer’s death marked a difficult time for Chicago but that “our city is strong.”
Previous Line-of-Duty Deaths
The last firefighter to die in the line of duty was Andrew Price on Nov. 13, 2023, after he fell through the shaft of a skylight and landed on the basement floor while battling an extra-alarm blaze in the 2400 block of North Lincoln Avenue. Three more firefighters died in the line of duty in 2023. Kevin Ward died from injuries suffered while battling a house fire on Aug. 11, 2023, in the 8300 block of West Balmoral Avenue. Jan Tchoryk died of a heart attack after responding to a Gold Coast high-rise blaze on April 5, 2023, and Jermaine Pelt died a day earlier while working to put out an extra-alarm fire in West Pullman.
Conclusion
The death of Capt. David Meyer is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by firefighters every day. His dedication to his work and his community will not be forgotten. As Commissioner Nance-Holt said, “We go to work every day, and you know, we never know if we’re going to come home.” But for Capt. Meyer, his work was not just a job, it was what he loved to do, and he was really good at it.
FAQs
- Q: What was the cause of Capt. David Meyer’s death?
A: Capt. David Meyer died after a roofing beam fell on him during a garage blaze in Austin on the West Side. - Q: How long was Capt. Meyer with the Chicago Fire Department?
A: Capt. Meyer was with the Chicago Fire Department for nearly 30 years, joining in October 1996. - Q: What was the response from Mayor Brandon Johnson?
A: Mayor Brandon Johnson called Capt. Meyer a hero, courageous, brave, and bold, and asked the people of Chicago to pray for the Meyer family and the fire department. - Q: How many firefighters died in the line of duty in 2023?
A: Four firefighters died in the line of duty in 2023, including Andrew Price, Kevin Ward, Jan Tchoryk, and Jermaine Pelt.
