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Cause
of Death: Smoke inhalation; heart attack.
End of Watch: August 14, 1973
Date of Incident: August 14, 1973
Age: 43
Rank: Lieutenant
Status: Career
Badge Number:
Tour of Duty:
Assignment: Engine Company #8
Final Alarm: 200 block N. Richter
Nature of Death: Became ill after fighting fire and was rushed to
the hospital where he succumbed to a heart attack.
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Lieutenant Ehrlich commanded the Engine Company out of #8’s Firehouse.
He was well known for his firefighting abilities. In the early afternoon
of August 14th 1973 Engine #8 and Truck #8 responded to a
regular alarm for a dwelling fire in the 200 block of N. Richter. Upon
arrival the companies found a small abandoned structure fully charged with
acrid thick smoke. Breathing apparatus were not in use at this time. Lt.
Ehrlich recognized the smell and instructed his crew that it was a
mattress fire. He entered through the front door leading both crews
through the smoke in search of the mattress. He quickly located one and
pulled it out of the home and returned to help his crew find more. All in
all there were six burning mattresses pulled and extinguished from the
dilapidated home. No sooner had the #8 crews returned to quarters when Lt.
Ehrlich became ill. The District Chief was summoned and he rushed the
Lieutenant to the Baptist Memorial Hospital. The veteran firefighter did
not survive and succumbed to a heart attack.
Lieutenant Ehrlich was survived by his wife, Gloria; five daughters,
Shirley, Cynthia, JoAnn, Judy and Nancy; mother, Stella; brother, Frank;
and five sisters, Margaret, Alice, Della, Lucilla, and Frances.. |