Assistant Foreman Joel Kohlhammer

Syracuse Fire Department

Date of Death: August 20, 1841

Assistant Foreman Joel Kohlhammer was one of three members of the Syracuse Fire Department killed during a catastrophic fire on August 20, 1841, in Syracuse, New York. The blaze claimed approximately 30 lives, including several firefighters from Engine Company No. 3. His sacrifice stands among the earliest and most tragic losses in the department’s history, marking a profound moment of mourning for the young city and its fire service.