CHICAGO — Fire service leaders from across the country attended a funeral service in Chicago Friday for “Chief of Hazmat” John Eversole.
The retired chief of special operations at Chicago Fire Department died Sunday after battling chronic health issues since a heart attack several years ago.
“The fire service has lost a great leader,” said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes after his death.
“John Eversole was a big man physically, but he also loomed large in the fire service. He was a giant in the world of hazardous materials and devoted his life to affecting changes worldwide for the fire service and the protection of the public everywhere.”
Chief Eversole helped shape legislation, trends and operations affecting the fire service, particularly in the areas of hazardous materials, terrorism and firefighter safety.
He often testified before congressional committees for the IAFC on issues involving domestic terrorism threats, and he received many awards and recognitions.
Chief Eversole was a member of the IAFC Great Lakes Division, and was a charter member of the IAFC Hazardous Materials committee, chairing it for 15 years.
He was instrumental in the success of the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference and is credited with being one of its early creators in early 1980s.
“The breadth and depth of John’s influence on the hazardous materials response profession during his tenure as chairman is immeasurable,” said Tim Butters, assistant chief in Fairfax, Va., his successor on the committee and a close family friend.
“He was not only respected for his technical knowledge by the responders, but also officials in government and industry for his ability to find common ground on controversial issues without compromising the need to protect emergency responders and communities.
“I believe his greatest attribute was never losing sight of protecting the ‘guy in the street,’ as he would say — the firefighter — whether part of hazmat team or not.”