On January 3, 1984, Firefighter Thomas Baron of the Steger Fire Department lost his life after suffering a heart attack in the line of duty while fighting a residential fire. Baron collapsed after operating a hose line during firefighting operations. 

Thomas Baron had been a member of the Steger Fire Department for twenty years and worked full time as a repairman for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. 

Thomas Baron is survived by his wife, two children, father, and sister.