Oscar F. Stell

November 23, 1929

Captain assigned to Engine '9, died while fighting a fire at the old Chamber of Commerce building at 79-81 Monroe Avenue at 10:00 p.m. on November 23, 1929. During the blaze, Steil went to tighten a hose connection on the fire escape. He exited the smoke-filled sixth floor and fell to the ground. He had been with the department for seven years. Captain Oscar Steil was married and the father of three daughters. His death occurred on the eve of his eighth wedding anniversary, for which a large celebration had been planned. Ironically, Steil had been assigned to Engine 9 to succeed Captain Jack Sullivan, who died in the line of duty one year earlier.