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Line of Duty Deaths

Houston Fire Fighters who made the Supreme Sacrifice

John "Red" Adams, a pipe-ladderman at Fire Station No. 18, died from a heart attack on March 7, 1948, at a fire at 2850 Lidstone Street.	Captain Steve Baranowski, Station 37, suffered a heart attack on February 3, 1969, while overhauling at a house fire at 3631 Underwood.	Junior Captain George L. Bishop, Station No. 4, was killed by a falling chimney at a house fire at 2707 Grant Street.
First Assistant Chief J. A. "Bob" Boyd was killed on August 4, 1923, en route to a fire on Shrimp Alley Street.	Captain Grady Don Burke, Engine 46, was killed in a fire when the roof of an abandoned building collapsed on February 19, 2005.	On January, 7, 1954, Pipe-Ladderman Frank Catino was killed in an accident between Ladder 1 and an automobile at the intersection of Preston and Crawford.
Pipe-Ladderman Fidel Chabolla was killed the night of July 29, 1953, in a collision between Engine 8 and Truck 1 at the intersection of Preston and Crawford Street.	Pipe-Ladderman Doyle Hubert Chandler was killed at a fire aboard the S.S. Amoco Virginia on November 9, 1959.	On January 31, 1951, Chauffeur Joseph "Bull" Connor, Station 1, suffered a heart attack while setting up a heavy stream on the water tower.
Dominic "Don" Contorno, a pipe-ladderman at Station 37, suffered a heart attack on May 2, 1962, at a two-alarm fire involving Wanda Petroleum Company.	Thomas Cooper, a probationary fire fighter assigned to Station 1, was injured September 21, 1982, responding to a fire.	Firefighter Harold Denny was killed on May 1, 1924, enroute to a fire at the Bluefront Boarding House at Preston and Milam.
Firefighter Harry Dodd was killed in a collision at the intersection of Dallas and Milam on July 26, 1923. He was riding on Ladder No. 1 headed to a fire at 1315 Shaw.	Assistant Fire Chief Vernon J. Dorsett was killed on January 21, 1949, in an accident at the intersection of Harrisburg and Linwood.	Claude W. Edmonds, acting captain at Central Fire Station, was killed on August 19, 1926, in a training exercise beside the station.
On February, 23, 1954, Chauffeur Woodrow Erwin died of a heart attack during a small fire at 2705 Clay. Assigned to Engine 24, he was acting captain the day of the fire.	District Chief Lonnie Franklin (Station 7) was killed January 4, 1983, in an accident at Elgin and Hutchins. He was responding to an early morning alarm.	Horrace Gassoway, a pipe-ladderman assigned to Station 10, was killed in an accident on August 6, 1941 en route to a supermarket fire at Preston and Washington Avenue.
Firefighter Robert Glass was killed when Service Truck No. 1 slammed into a trolley car as the firefighters raced to a fire in Fifth Ward.	Firefighter Edgar Grant was killed on July 2, 1929, when a train broadsided Engine 18 at a railroad crossing on Telephone Road at Lombardy Street.	Fireman H. A. Harris, Engine No. 10, was killed on February 14, 1921 battling a blaze in the Texas Lamp and Oil Company at Baker and Pine streets.
An explosion of a railroad tank car on Mykawa road near Almeda Genoa Road claimed the life of Fire Inspector Truxton Hathaway on October 19, 1971.	Firefighter Rudolph "Rudy" Hendricks, Engine 25, was electrocuted at a fire on June 22, 1929, at 3252 Reeves Street.	Chauffeur Claude Hopkins was killed on June 30, 1962, in an accident involving Ladder 2 and a trailer truck loaded with grain. The accident occurred at Louisiana and Preston.
Captain Jay Jahnke was killed at a six alarm high rise apartment fire at S. Post Oak Lane and San Felipe Road on October 13, 2001.	Pipe-Ladderman Charles Jedlicka succumbed to injuries 11 days after an accident involving Engine 30 and a trailer truck loaded with steel on November 6, 1959.	Firefighter Clifford W. Johnson was killed en route to getting the assistant chief for a fire at McKinney and Chartres. He was assigned that night to pick up the chief at home in case of a fire
William Kersten, chauffeur at Station 19, was killed December 18, 1954, en route to a fire at 7306 Bonham.	Firefighter Kevin Kulow of Station 50 was trapped when the roof of the El Festival ballroom on Kempwood collapsed on April 4, 2004.	Captain John Little died July 11, 1929, from injuries suffered nine days earlier when a train broadsided Engine 18 at a railroad crossing on Telephone Road at Lombardy Street.
A flashover at a fire in a two-story residence killed Ruben Lopez, a district chief of the Houston Volunteer Fire Department, on December 4, 1996.	Pipe-Ladderman James Edward Lowth was killed instantly on March 31, 1947, in a collision en route to a fire at Eastern States Refinery.	Senior Captain Jackie Ludwick, Station 7, died of a heart attack on February 4, 1977, battling a fire at 3700 Wheeler.
Firefighter Steven Mayfield died of a heart attack during a training exercise in Dallas on December 2, 1998.	Firefighter Lewis Mayo, Engine Co. 76, was killed at an early morning blaze in a McDonald Restaurant at 12602 Bissonnet on February 14, 2000.	Pipe-Ladderman Willis McWhorter was killed at an accident involving Engine 30 and a trailer truck loaded with steel on November 6, 1959.
Driver Frank W. Medlenka, Washington No. 8 steamer, was killed on November 23, 1901, in an accident while responding to a fire at the corner of McKinney and Chartres.	Assistant Fire Chief C. A. Middlekauf died of a heart attack at a 3-11 fire at 1817 Center Street on March 10, 1953. He was directing the attack on the Fedrick Poultry and Egg Company.	A collision between No. 7 chief's car and a pickup truck on April 14, 1949, killed, Chauffeur Robert "Bobby" Milburn. He was responding to a box alarm when the accident happened.
Firefighter Barney C. Moffatt was killed at a fire in Mercantile Grain Company, 1215 Hardy, on April 26, 1908. He and his captain were overhauling in the main warehouse.	Pipe-Ladderman Aaron O'Brien was killed on December 20, 1929, in an accident involving Engine 19 and a Southern Pacific train.	Firefighter Patrick O'Hara, Station 6, was killed on the way to a fire on September 21, 1913. He was thrown from the engine as it maneuvered through Sabine and Lubbock streets.
Fire Chief Thomas A. O'Leary lost his life on November 22, 1908, while leading his men battling a fire in a boxcar loaded with fireworks that had exploded.	Firefighter Harry "Red" Oxford died July 3, 1929, from injuries suffered the previous day when a train broadsided Engine 18 at a railroad crossing on Telephone Road at Lombardy Street.	Pipe-Ladderman Robert Reyes was killed on December 1, 1984, when he fell from Engine 15 onto the North Freeway.
Lewis "Moe" Richardson, a captain at Station 7, died of a heart attack while battling a stubborn apartment fire on February 3, 1973. The fire was at 1400 Richmond.	A streetcar-fire engine collision claimed the life of Esker J. Rogers, a pipe-ladderman at Station 17, on August 22, 1934. He was filling in at Station 24 when a box alarm rang in.	Pipe-Ladderman Charles Rusk was killed on June 8, 1932, in a collision between Ladder 14 and a streetcar at 17th and Yale.
District Chief Alfred Schutze was killed in a nighttime accident on August 21, 1938, responding to a garage apartment fire at 2012 Bolsover.	Chauffeur Delbert Sherfy was killed in an accident on October 31, 1954. Engine 17 and an automobile collided at Sampson and Canal responding to a wash down.	Firefighter James "Mag" Smith was killed February 9, 1929, by a blow to the head from a hose coupling at a fire on Congress.
Firefighter Kimberly Ann Smith, Engine Co. 76, was killed at an early morning blaze in a McDonald Restaurant at 12602 Bissonnet on February 14, 2000.	On the night of July 29, 1953, Chauffeur Joseph J. Solito was killed in a collision between Engine 8 and Truck 1 at the intersection of Preston and Crawford.	On January 31, 1951, Rufus "Bullet" Templet suffered a heart attack at the Alaskan Fur Factory on Main Street and Texas.
Firefighter Emil "Ed" Thompson lost his life on April 7, 1899, en route to a fire on Crocket Street. Hose Wagon No. 5 was crossing the railroad tracks on Hickory Street.	Captain Herman "Dutch" Wagner was critically injured on May 19, 1912, at a fire which began in the 6-story Stower Building on Main Street between Rusk and Capitol.	Chauffeur William Walter "Molly" Walker (a.k.a. Will "Molly" Walker) died a year and a half after he was injured in an accident on December 6, 1938.
On May 3, 1971, Pipe-Ladderman James Walls was killed after the ambulance he was driving collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Chimney Rock Road and Westheimer.	Pipe-Ladderman William Ward (Station 14) died December 21, 1929, from injuries suffer at an accident the previous day involving Engine 19 and a Southern Pacific train.	Firefighter Clifford Weise was assigned to the supply wagon at Station 3 on the day he was killed, July 14, 1913. He was hit by a work-crew train at the Johnson Street crossing.