John Powers

• Firefighter
• Paterson Volunteer Fire Department
• New Jersey
• Age: 29
• Year of Death: 1876

Firefighter John Powers, age 29, of the Paterson Fire Department, responded to a call on the evening of September 9, 1876 for a fire at the Ryder Carpentry shop at Market and Seeley Streets. He became ill at the scene, was carried home and died just after midnight on September 10, 1876, likely due to a heart attack.

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.