Crime & Safety

Lincoln Square Fire Captain Retires After 32 Years

Capt. John Fleischhacker ends a lifelong career at the Chicago Fire Department after serving 32 years, 9 months and 15 days. Firefighters and family gathered at the station on Foster Road Wednesday to celebrate his career.

Capt. John Fleischhacker has been a firefighter for more than half his life—32 of his 60 years. On Friday, he’ll end his lifelong career with the Chicago Fire Department.

“And on Monday at 10 a.m., I’ll be on a flight to Hawaii,” he said.

Fleischhacker has been the captain of the Engine 110 firehouse at 2322 West Foster Avenue for the last six years, manning the station that covers Lincoln Square and Bowmanville.

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“No two days are the same,” Fleischhacker said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

Fellow firefighters and family gathered at the station on Wednesday to wish their captain good luck for the future.

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“He always pushes me and the other guys,” firefighter Lou Mendoza said. “He shows us an example of how you’re supposed to perform.”

Mendoza remembered a time when Fleischhacker was sick and still came to work. There was a midnight fire and the team was already short one man. Four firefighters had to carry a bangor – an extension ladder that reaches three to five floors – about a block to the fire. Halfway there, Fleischhacker hurt his shoulder, but still stayed until the fire was extinguished.

“When he came back, he did his paperwork and didn’t complain at all. It showed a lot of courage and he went way beyond his job duties,” Mendoza said.

Fleischhacker, a lifelong Chicago resident, plans to travel with his free time. There are only five states he hasn’t seen: Alaska, Oregon, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

“He’s a good one, kept his people safe and he always got home with everybody,” said Deputy District Chief Pat Brennan.

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