1940 Fall Proves Fatal to Fireman
Scene of Ladder Failure - August 4, 1940 - Dressing Family Collection
On August 4, 1940, companies were drilling in the rear of Engine 32's quarters in Avondale. Firefighter John Dressing Jr was ascending the aerial of Ladder Company 9 (todays Ladder 23) as part of a training evolution. As Dressing approached the top of the 85ft aerial, it suddenly broke near its base falling onto the roof of an adjoining garage and tossing Dressing through a skylight. It was estimated he fell twenty feet. Firefighter Dressing suffered serious neck and internal injuries as well as a broken left arm and broken rib. He was hospitalized for 7 days and was off duty for over 5 months. Despite ongoing health concerns, he was returned to duty and assigned to Engine 49 in Madisonville. Sometime around August 1943 he began to experience swelling in his neck and again visited with doctors. Soon it was determined that a cancerous tumor had developed. Doctors reviewed the case and indicated that his disease was potentially linked to his earlier injuries sustained in the fall. As his health deteriorated, he was again forced from service and on February 2, 1944 he was taken to General Hospital where he died the following day. Doctors determined his cause of death was pneumonia and carcinoma of the lung.
Cincinnati Fire Department Injury Report - August 4, 1940 - Dressing Family Collection
Recently I was contacted by the son of Firefighter Dressing, Mr. John Dressing III. He was interested in sharing some photographs of his father and additional documentation and details regarding his father's service and death. Mr. Dressing visited the quarters of Engine 35 in Westwood to share his father's story. Though he was just a young child at the time of his father's injury, he was able to provide a wealth of information and documentation addressing the incident.
John Dressing III visiting Engine 35s Quarters in October 2022
Dressing Family Collection
Firefighter John Dressing died of his injuries/illness on February 15, 1944. He was survived by his wife and two young children. His story is representative of the many sacrifices sustained by countless firefighters in the course of their service to the City of Cincinnati for which the details are often lost to history. Many thanks to Mr. John Dressing III for sharing his fathers story!
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John Dressing Jr - Dressing Family Collection
Additional History and information
John Dressing entered the Cincinnati Fire Department in 1933. He was assigned to Ladder Company 12 at the time of his accident. In 1997 Ladder 12 was re-numbered Ladder 32.
Dressing is known to have responded to the Spaier Health Shoe Store 3 alarm fire and collapse on February 23, 1940 and was among the 16 firefighters who were injured when the floor collapsed beneath them. Many of the firefighters were trapped under heavy debris but Dressing was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries.
John Dressing drinking coffee after being rescued from the Spaier Shoe Store Collapse
Dressing is pictured second from right
Cincinnati Post - 24 February 1940
Dressing's father, John Dressing Sr., was a Cincinnati Police Patrolman with the Traffic Court. He suffered a heart attack just days after learning of his son's fall from the ladder in 1940. He was transported to General Hospital where his son was already a patient. A couple of days later local papers reported both men to be in fair condition. John Dressing Sr. ultimately recovered and was released from the hospital.
We honor the memory and sacrifice of
Firefighter John Dressing Jr
1906-1944
