Palatine To Honor 2 Firefighters Killed In 1946 Train Crash

PALATINE, IL — The Palatine Fire Department will mark the 80th anniversary of a deadly line-of-duty crash this week with a memorial ceremony honoring two volunteer firefighters.

The ceremony is scheduled for about 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial at North Brockway and West Slade streets in downtown Palatine.

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The department will honor volunteer firefighters Wesley Comfort Jr. and Leonard Nebel, who were fatally injured Oct. 1, 1946, when their fire truck collided with a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad passenger train while they were responding to a fire.

According to a Chicago Daily Tribune account cited by the department, the fire engine was destroyed in the collision and dragged nearly 100 feet.

Nebel died at the scene and was survived by his wife and five children.

Comfort, the son of the Palatine fire chief, was taken to Palatine Community Hospital, where he died from his injuries Oct. 5.

Thursday's ceremony will begin with the Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard stepping off from Fire Station 85, 39 E. Colfax St., at about 8:45 a.m. and marching to the memorial.

The ceremony is expected to begin when the Honor Guard arrives at about 9 a.m. and will include a wreath presentation and the ringing of the ceremonial fire bell.

The event is open to the public.