On December 7, 1970, three Naperville firefighters lost their lives in a tragic collision while responding to a house fire. Bill Friedrich shared a link to the Illinois Fire Service Institute's Firefighter Record, which provides detailed documentation of the incident. The report includes radio logs, original accident reports, and photographs from the scene, offering a comprehensive look at what happened that day.
According to the incident summary, the Naperville Fire Department received an alarm at 7:55 AM for a house fire located west of the city. A fire engine carrying five firefighters was en route when it collided with a semi-trailer at the intersection of Illinois Routes 59 and 65. This location had been the site of several fatal accidents in previous years, and traffic lights had only been installed at the intersection two weeks prior to the crash.
The impact of the collision was devastating. Lieutenant Richard Rechenmacher, Engineer Jerry Herring, and Firefighter Bernard Petrowski were thrown from the cab of the fire truck and killed instantly. Firefighter Mike Hill suffered critical injuries and was rushed to the hospital, while Firefighter James Heinke, who was on the tailboard, escaped without harm.
In the aftermath, mutual aid from the Moecherville Fire Department arrived at the original fire scene, and the Downers Grove Fire Department sent additional personnel and equipment to support Naperville’s efforts. The tragedy marked one of the darkest days in the department’s history and highlighted the dangers faced by emergency responders every day.
Two photos from the incident are included in the record. One shows the crushed cab of the Naperville Mack-C engine and the overturned semi-trailer, while the other is a delivery photo of the 1967 Mack C95F engine involved in the crash. These images serve as a powerful reminder of the risks that firefighters take in the line of duty.
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