‘A sad day’: Chicago fire captain dies after battling garage fire on West Side

CHICAGO — Chicago firefighters are mourning the loss of a fire captain who was killed while battling a garage fire on the city’s West Side early Wednesday morning.

54-year-old CFD Captain David Meyer was a 28-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department. He was tragically killed while crews were responding to a garage fire that broke out around 4 a.m. in the 5500 block of West Crystal in Austin.

“This is a sad day for CFD and Chicago,” the department said in a post on “X.”

According to CFD, Meyer joined the department in 1996. His last assignment was Truck 29 and he leaves behind his wife, daughters and a son.

Officials said the fire had been extinguished when the garage collapsed and injured Meyer.

“The fire was put out and the companies were outside the garage starting salvage and overhaul when the garage collapsed injuring Captain Meyer,” CFD Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said

Officials said it was an I-beam that collapsed on Meyer. Following the incident, he was rushed to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Meyer’s wife, three daughters and his son stood outside the emergency room and watched as the procession left and made it way toward the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Loved ones said Meyer loved carpentry and was nearing retirement. He had spent most of his career working on the West Side.

“This morning the Chicago Fire Department had another devastating loss. We lost a beloved member, Captain David Meyer. He was the rock of his family. His wife shared with me that they had been together since they were 14-years-old and started dating when they were 15-years-old. So they had been married a long time. His mom and dad are still here. It’s hard. The mom said, ‘no one should watch their child go first’,” Commissioner Nance-Holt said.

Witnesses say the fire started in the alley, possibly in trash cans, then spread to the garage.

In an update shared around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Chicago fire officials said its Office of Fire Investigation, in collaboration with the ATF, determined that the blaze was the result of human action. Officials said someone lit the contents of a trash bin on fire, which eventually sparked the blaze.

Mayor Brandon Johnson released the following statement on the passing of Captain Meyer:

“We are grieving for the family and loved ones of Captain David Meyer, who we lost early this morning battling a fire in the 37th ward. I pray for his family, his loved ones, and all the brave men and women of our Chicago Fire Department. Captain Meyer was a hero who served the people of our city with courage and honor for more than 28 years. This is a devastating loss for our city. Captain Meyer was not just a firefighter; he was a beloved husband, son, and father of four. Our whole city wraps our arms around the family and loved ones of Captain Meyer during this trying time.”   

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

According to officials, evidence collected at the scene has been turned over to CPD detectives for a criminal investigation.