Our condolences to the Martin family and the Opal Volunteer Fire Department of South Dakota. FireFighter David Martin, 48, a 20 year veteran firefighter with the Opal Volunteer Fire Department died Tuesday August 6, 2002. David was severely burned on Thursday August 1, 2002. He fell from a brush truck into the path of a prairie fire in Meade County. He was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital and later transferred to the burn center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota where he remained in critical condition with burns over 80 percent of his body.

     David worked for Meade County as a highway maintenance patrol operator. Our brother David leaves behind a wife, Rhonda, daughters Alicia (14) and Milita (16), and his son Jeremiah (18).