CFD Engineer Dies During Equipment Tests

Steven Decker, a 61-year-old Chicago Fire Department engineer assigned to Engine 71, died on May 14 after suffering what the department called a medical emergency during an annual equipment test on the city’s North Side. Fire officials said the incident happened about 3 p.m. in the 6600 block of North Kedzie Avenue in the West Ridge neighborhood, and Decker was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner identified him Thursday night. Multiple local outlets, citing the department and union officials, reported Decker had nearly 30 years on the job and had planned to retire in November. ### Where did the incident happen, and what have officials said? The Chicago Fire Department said the emergency occurred during a training exercise tied to an annual equipment test near North Kedzie Avenue in West Ridge. The department publicly said it was mourning the loss of a 30-year member who died during training, but it did not immediately provide a detailed account of the sequence of events or the medical cause. (chicago.suntimes.com) St. Francis Hospital in Evanston received Decker after the incident, according to fire officials cited by local news reports. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later identified him as Steven Decker, 61. ### What kind of test was underway? Chicago fire officials said Decker suffered the medical emergency during an annual equipment test. (abc7chicago.com) Some local reports, citing union president Erik Steinmetz and other officials, described the work as mandated hose testing that takes place on a recurring basis to make sure equipment performs under fireground conditions. (chicago.suntimes.com) ABC7 and other Chicago outlets reported Steinmetz said the work was more strenuous than it might sound. He described Decker as a firefighter who knew his apparatus thoroughly and kept it ready. ### Who was Steven Decker inside the department? Engine 71 was Decker’s assignment, according to multiple reports. City human resources data cited by FireRescue1 identified him as a CFD fire engineer, a role that local television reports said includes operating and maintaining apparatus in addition to standard firefighting duties. (nbcchicago.com) (abc7chicago.com) WGN, NBC Chicago and other outlets reported Decker was a 30-year veteran and was set to retire in November. Block Club Chicago reported Ald. Debra Silverstein said he had served with the department since 1997. ### How did firefighters honor him after his death? Chicago firefighters held an honor procession on May 14 as Decker’s body was transported from St. Francis Hospital to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. (firerescue1.com) News reports described emergency vehicles lining parts of the route, while first responders stood at attention and saluted. (wgntv.com) Western Avenue was one of the streets where colleagues and neighbors gathered as the procession moved south, according to local coverage and images referenced in follow-up reports. ### What remains unknown? Chicago fire officials have not released a cause of death. Local reports said no further information about the medical emergency was immediately available, and officials had not publicly detailed whether additional findings would come from the medical examiner or an internal review. (chicago.suntimes.com) The Cook County medical examiner’s office is the next named agency in the case. (msn.com) As of May 16, public reporting showed the office had identified Decker, while the Chicago Fire Department had confirmed the date, place and circumstances of the training incident but not announced further findings. (chicago.suntimes.com) (abc7chicago.com)