Corporal Ellwood Milton “Woody” Gelenius

Photo of Corporal Ellwood Milton “Woody” Gelenius
Last Call: Wed, Feb 5th, 1992
Date of Incident: Wed, Feb 5th, 1992
Cause of Death: Burns
Service Time: 21 years
Age: 47

Incident

Firefighters responding to a fire at the Indianapolis Athletic Club were initially delayed by the annunciator panel indicating the fire was in the basement of the building. When they realized the fire was actually on the third floor they were further delayed by a fire hose standpipe the maintenance personnel had sealed shut with Teflon tape. While some firefighters worked on the standpipe, others were sent to attack the origin of the fire in the barroom. However, the fire had spread above and behind the firefighters through a false ceiling containing combustible materials, resulting in a flashover that trapped and killed Corporal Gelenius, Private Lorenzano and severely burned another. For a full report see:

http://www.interfire.org/res_file/pdf/tr-063.pdf

Agency

Indianapolis Fire Department Patch
555 North New Jersey Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 327-6041

Tributes

There are 3 tributes for Corporal Ellwood Milton “Woody” Gelenius.

Corporal Ellwood Milton “Woody” Gelenius
Left by Tricia Gelenius on Monday, February 4th, 2008

Life has not the same since you have been gone. May you rest in peace and you will always be my hero! I love you Dad!!