Firefighter Thomas J. O’Brien, age 47, of the Fort Worth Fire Department died in an apparatus accident while responding to a call on November 5, 1939.

Thomas was a member of the department for 15 years. He was first appointed as a substitute fireman in February 1924 and became a private in June at Station 2. In April 1937, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served at Station 1. Due to the city’s cost cutting measures, he was demoted to the rank of private in October 1937 and was transferred to Station 6.

His brother Captain John O’Brien also served in the department.

Firefighter O’Brien was also a veteran of World War I and served in Battery D of the 133rd Field Artillery.