Acting Lieutenant George Malik, age 38, of the Chicago Fire Department died with four other firefighters in a building collapse during the Reliance Hotel on December 17, 1953.
He became a member of the Chicago Fire Department on January 25, 1945.
This firefighter line of duty fatality occurred before the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was built in Emmitsburg, Maryland. While this firefighter has not been officially honored at the Memorial site, there are plans to do so when resources are available.