Fallen Firefighter service to be held in Howardwick

Dateline: October 2, 2008

Fallen Firefighter service to be held in Howardwick

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Service on Friday, October 3, at 9:00 a.m. at Howardwick City Hall. Mark your calendar and join us in honor of the 118 brave men and women who gave their lives protecting us since 2007.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration announce that the 27th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 4-5. A plaque with the names of 101 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2007 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located here on the National Fire Academy campus. The names of 9 firefighters who died in previous years will also be added. The plaques surrounding the Memorial, which was established in 1981, will contain the names of more than 3,200 firefighters.

Thirty-four states experienced line-of-duty deaths in 2007. Deaths resulted from many causes, including vehicle accidents while en route to or returning from emergency calls, training incidents, building collapses, being struck by objects (vehicles, trees) at the incident scene, falls, heart attacks, helicopters crashes and burns. Six multiple fatality incidents accounted for 19 deaths. Four multiple fatality incidents occurred at structural fires, one during an explosion at a HAZMAT incident, and another in an apparatus crash en route to an emergency call. Wildland fires, controlled burns, and training/certification for wildlife protection resulted in 5 fatalities. South Carolina suffered the Nation’s greatest number of line-of-duty firefighter deaths in 2007 with 10, while Pennsylvania had 8, North Carolina had 8 as well, and New York had 7.

Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors, stated: “Each year, members of the fire service, survivors of our fallen heroes, and other guests join together in Emmitsburg, Maryland, during the Memorial Weekend to honor those firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. They travel from all over the United States to take part in this important weekend of events. It’s a time of dignity, respect, and reflection for our service, and an opportunity to extend our collective love and support to the survivors. Family members, as well as fellow firefighters, learn of the services the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has available for them and how they can stay connected to the Foundation for assistance in the future.”