Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Walter Patmon, Jr.

Firefighter

Firefighter Patmon was on-duty as the driver of a ladder company. He and his crew came on-duty at 0800hrs. During the day, Firefighter Patmon and his ladder company responded to two EMS incidents and a vehicle crash. At 2205hrs, Firefighter Patmon and his crew were the arriving ladder at a reported structural fire. Firefighter Patmon donned his protective clothing and set up the aerial ladder for operations. The incident was found to be food on the stove and Firefighter Patmon returned the ladder to its bed. While driving back to quarters, Firefighter Patmon began to suffer shortness of breath and chest pains. Upon arrival at the fire station at 2224hrs, Firefighter Patmon's symptoms quickly worsened. An ambulance was called and other firefighters provided care for Firefighter Patmon. He left for the hospital by ambulance at 2231hrs and arrived at the hospital at 2236hrs. Despite care given in the emergency room, Firefighter Patmon was pronounced dead at 2320hrs. The cause of death was a heart attack. For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2012-29 (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201229.pdf) Incident Location: 1500 block of West 99th Street (USNG: 16T DM 4510 1824)
photo of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Walter Patmon, Jr. was honored on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland and was included in the USFA’s annual report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.

Department information

Chicago Fire Department
3510 South Michigan Avenue, Floor 2
USNG: 16T DM 4822 3118
Chicago, Illinois 60653

Chief: Fire Commissioner José A. Santiago

View NIOSH Report

Age: 61
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: November 11, 2012 22:00
Date of death: November 11, 2012
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Heart Attack
Activity type: Other
Emergency duty: No
Duty type: Returning
Fixed property use: Residential

Last updated: January 10, 2018