Firefighter John Kotzer

While working the three-story Ruff Block Fire at Hohman and Muenich, Firefighter Kotzer died when he was caught in a collapse after becoming disoriented. He had been driven out of the building twice by the intense heat and smoke, but re-entered again in attempts to locate the source of the fire.

Firefighter Kotzer was a master mechanic with the Hammond Fire Department and also served as the driver for Chief Nill.

Firefighter Kotzer was the first line of duty death with the Hammond Fire Department.