Our condolences to the McMillin family and the Martin Volunteer Fire Department of South Dakota. Assistant Chief Roger McMillin, 44, a
10 year veteran with the Martin Volunteer Fire Department died Tuesday September 10, 2002. Roger was working at the Mueller's Feed
Mill where a worker had climbed into an empty 4,000 gallon molasses vat to clean it and was overcome. Roger was one of the first
rescuers on the scene and climbed into the vat only to be overcome by toxic fumes later determined to be hydrogen sulfide.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Roger McMillin Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
9/27/02 Photo Gallery Update
Members of the fire, police, and emergency medical services gathered with city officials, religious officials,
and civilians in Waterbury to remember the lives of those lost a year ago on Sptember 11, 2001. There
are 10 photos in the
Waterbury 9/11/02 Memorial
photo gallery.
I attended the Awards Dinner for Local 1339 Wednesday night and had a great time. Lt Tony Leca was
awarded the Firefighter of the Year. Other members of the department were cited for heroism and bravery
in performing their duties. Capt. Mike Farrell and FF's Steve Croce and Ron Maia were given medals of
commendation for an extrication incident and a swift water rescue incident. Units were also given citations
as well as other members of the department and some civilians were awarded certificates of appreciation.
There are 5 photos in the
Local 1339 Awards Dinner
photo gallery.
9/25/02 Line of Duty Death - McLeansville, NC
Our condolences to the Powell family and the McLeansville Fire Department of North Carolina. FireFighter Cassandra Powell,
32, a veteran firefighter with time on several departments died Monday September 23, 2002. Cassandra was alone returning
to her assigned station No. 27 from headquarters with equipment. The 1,250 gallon 1975 Ford tanker she was driving left the
roadway, swerved back and overturned in a ditch crushing the cab roof. She pronounced dead at the scene and her body
had to be extricated from the vehicle.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Cassandra Powell Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
9/24/02 Photo Gallery Update
We had a rash of nasty wind storms in Waterbury the last couple of weeks. I responded to a giant
tree that fell on a minivan on a Saturday night. It was a miracle that the between the two occupants, only
the driver received minor cuts and bruises. A large branch went through the roof above the front
compartment and out the driver side just forward of the fuel door. Another smaller branch went through the
windshield and ended up lodged between the drivers left arm and the door. There are 11 photos in the
Tree versus Car
photo gallery.
Just a couple of weeks prior to that storm we had another giant tree fall onto the corner bedroom of a
house in the middle of the night. Again amazingly no one was sleeping in that bedroom. A large branch
also went throught the roof and into the bathroom. There are 6 photos in the
Tree versus House
photo gallery.
9/22/02 Line of Duty Death - Muscatine, IA
Our condolences to the Kruse family and the Muscatine Fire Department of Iowa. FireFighter Michael Kruse,
53, a 27 year veteran of the Muscatine Fire Department died Saturday September 14, 2002. Michael was
operating on the roof of a three story structure fire when the roof collapsed underneath him. He was rescued
and transported to Unity Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Michael Kruse Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
9/20/02 Photo Gallery Update
Krista Leary of the West York Fire Department of Pennsylvania sent me 4 photos of a fire at a BMW dealership in Danville
on Saturday July 19, 2002. Units responded from the Danville Fire Department and the Mahonig Township Fire Department.
There are 26 photos in the
Krista Leary
photo gallery.
I also started a photo gallery submitted by Ken Kane. The gallery is going to be Fire Trucks of the Hudson Valley, NY. There are 4
photos in the
Ken Kane
photo gallery. I hope to be posting more soon.
9/18/02 Line of Duty Death - Almaville, TN
Our condolences to the Hampton family and the Almaville Volunteer Fire Department of Tennessee. FireFighter
Jason Hampton, 19, a volunteer with the Almaville Volunteer Fire Department died Thursday September 5, 2002.
Jason was responding to a brush fire when the tanker he was driving veered off the road and crashed. He was the
only occupant of the vehicle and there were no other cars involved on the straight roadway.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Jason Hampton Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
9/16/02 Line of Duty Death - Penn Hills, PN
Our condolences to the Craft family and the Penn Hills Universal Volunteer Fire Department of Pennsylvania.
FireFighter Joseph Craft, 33, a volunteer with the Penn Hills Universal Volunteer Fire Department died Tuesday
Septmeber 3, 2002. He was found by his brother firefighters returning from a house struck by lightning call. He
was found in one of the company's trucks. He was pronounced dead at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville
having suffered cardiac arrest from a congenital heart defect.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Joseph Kraft Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
9/16/02 Line of Duty Death - South Schodack, NY
Our condolences to the Coons family and the South Schodack Volunteer Fire Department of New York. Fire
Police Captain Harold Coons Jr., 76, a 45 year veteran of the South Schodack Volunteer Fire Department
died Friday August 30, 2002. Harold was assisting with traffic control for a medevac landing zone at the
scene of a major traffic accident when he collapsed and died from an apparent heart attack.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Harold Coons Jr. Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
