Firefighter William Grant, 44, a 20 year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, died Friday March 23, 2007. William was riding in the rear cab of Ladder 51, responding with lights and siren to a fire call in the south side neighborhood of Englewood, when the apparatus was struck on the right rear side by a school bus while negotiating an intersection. The ladder truck swerved to avoid the bus, but was spun by the impact and overturned onto the drivers side. There were no children on the bus at the time of the accident.

William was extricated and transported to Stroger Hospital where he later died. The bus driver and three other firefighters were injured in the crash.

William was a second generation Chicago firefighter, his father John Grant having retired after 20 years of service. William was honored in 2001 by Mayor Richard Daley for the rescue of an 70-year old disabled woman from her burning home. His older brother Kevin is also a Chicago firefighter. William was also a part-time wood refinisher, and had placed his stamp on the new Englewood fire station by handcrafting a wooden mess table with the Chicago Fire Department maltese inlaid on the tabletop.

Our brother William leaves behind his wife Sharon, his son Danny , and his two daughters Caroline and Kristin.