John "Axe" Adcox

John "Axe" Adcox is a character in the 1991 film Backdraft. He is the friend - turned - enemy of both Lieutenant Stephen McCaffrey and Brian McCaffrey, who are both brother firefighters in the Chicago Fire Department.

He was portrayed by Scott Glenn.

Biography
John is a firefighter who works at Chicago Fire Department Station 17 and has had a long and successful career in firefighting and works with Stephen and Brian McCaffrey.

Earlier
John was a probationary firefighter who worked with Captain Dennis McCaffrey, the father of the two brothers. While John and Dennis were working together at a fire on 1545 Idyllwild in 1971, a gas pipe burst and Dennis was killed while saving John's life. John took care of Stephen and Brian after Dennis died in the line of duty.

Later
Later in the film, a series of arson fires break out and kill three victims in backdrafts. The victims are three men who worked for a corrupt politician named Martin Swayzak. The first victim, Alan Seagrave was blown back by a backdraft and went through the windshield of his own car. The second backdraft victim was Donald Cosgrove, who was also killed in a backdraft after opening a theater door. At a high rise fire, a building owner named Jeffrey Holcomb was killed in an office door backdraft before another firefighter, Tim Krizminski got caught in the same backdraft. Later, John tries to kill Swayzak, unfortunately John gets burned by a sparking electrical outlet, but survives. Brian visits Ronald Bartel, the imprisoned arsonist who was turned down by parole earlier in the film and talks about who could have been setting the fires and how they were started. Brian finds out that it may be his older brother, Stephen.

Brian stops by Stephen's boat, because John gave him some chemicals that the department was apparently "throwing out" and Brian notices that trychtichlorate (a fictional chemical substance) is labeled on the cans. Brian then goes to Station 17, where he, Stephen and John work. Brian, still suspicious that Stephen was behind the fires looks in Stephen's locker and he finds nothing but pictures and clothes. Then, Brian notices John combing his hair and has a towel on his left shoulder. Brian notices an outlet burn mark and finds out that it was indeed their friend.

A call comes in for a chemical fire. Stephen asks if it was Adcox. When Brian hears that, he asks Stephen how did he know if it was their friend and denies knowing about John's heinous crimes. Stephen than says that he will handle confronting John since he's his Lieutenant. Brian then asks Stephen if he had anything to do with the backdrafts. Stephen denies any wrongdoing.

When John honestly explains to Stephen why he killed Swayzak's henchmen, he tells both Stephen and Brian (who are both disappointed in their friend) that he was doing it to keep the department safe from harm. John also explains that he started the fire that got Tim hurt (which he didn't mean to have happen). John then hurts Brian after he was found out and then admits to Stephen, "I just couldn't let it go, Bull." Stephen then replies, "Yeah!" John then bursts into tears. Just then, a catwalk gives way, John gets burned and pleads for Stephen to let him go. Stephen replies "You go! We go!" Stephen lets go and John gets burned to death. Stephen then gets a massive cut after hitting a metal railing and two other firefighters take the injured Lieutenant to an ambulance.

Stephen tells Brian to not reveal that John was behind the arson fires. Brian promises. Stephen then dies due to high blood loss. The next day, the department holds a funeral for John and Stephen.

Quotes
"I had to do it for the department."

- John Adcox "Why'd you have to go in there so f*ckin' early?"

- John Adcox "Your dad would f*ckin' puke if he saw how you sh*t on his department!"

- John Adcox

"(speaking to Stephen) I should've told you. I should've let you in on it, (Brian: Let him in on what, John? Murder?) let you in on it before Swayzak and those a**holes were closing firehouses. They were getting our friends killed for money"

- John Adcox

"(After Brian asked him if he intended to get Tim burned) That was an accident!"

- John Adcox

"(last words) Let me go, Bull!"

- John Adcox