61-Year-Old CFD Engineer Suffered 'Medical Emergency' During Equipment Test On North Side

CHICAGO—The Chicago Fire Department is mourning the loss of CFD Engineer Steven Decker, who died Thursday during a training exercise on Chicago’s North Side.

Decker was a 30-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department and was due to retire in November. The 61-year-old firefighter was an engineer assigned to Engine 71 at California and Devon in the city’s West Ridge neighborhood.

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Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, firefighters were conducting annual equipment tests in the 6600 block of North Kedzie Avenue, when Decker suffered a “medical emergency,” fire officials said on social media.

Decker was rushed to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he later died.

“We are asking for prayers for the entire Decker & CFD families during this difficult time,” CFD said in a statement.