DUNDALK'S

FALLEN BROTHERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LT. RICHARD W. OCHELTREE - 1973

  LT. Ocheltree died from cardiac arrest after returning from call. 

 

LT. RAY W. SMITH - 1978  

  LT. Smith died after returning from a fire. Lt. Smith died from cardiac arrest.

 

 SHILLER'S FURNITURE - 1984                                                                        

FF JAMES A. KIMBEL

FF HENRY W. RAYNER JR.

FF WALTER J. BAWROSKI SR.

On Monday October 22nd 1984, Fire Box 6-2 was struck out at 13:33hrs for a reported building fire at the Shillers Furniture Store in the 7400 block of Holabird Ave. While enroute Engine 6 (Dundalk) advised they had heavy smoke showing from a mile away. Engine's 6 & 61 arrived at location at 13:37 and advised dispatch they had a 210' X 130' 2 story block building with heavy smoke and fire showing.

While crews from Engine 6 & 61 started an aggressive interior attack, a 2nd alarm was requested at 13:41. As Engine companies were stretching lines to the interior of the building they noticed that there was in fact a third floor that was not visible from the exterior. A third alarm was struck out at 13:52 hours it was around this time when conditions started to deteriorate rapidly.

One firefighter stated that, as he was exiting the building  he was almost blown out of the structure by what he describes as flashover-like conditions and reported that three other firefighters were still inside. He was the last firefighter to leave the building alive

Several attempts were made to knock down the fire in the rear so that members could reenter the structure and search for the three trapped firefighters, their attempts were unsuccessful. Shortly after, it was reported that three firefighters were found exiting the rear of the building. It was originally thought that these were the firefighters in question, "that was found not to be true after a roll call was conducted" A 4th alarm was struck out at14:12 and the 5th at 14:32 hrs, a special call for 4 more engines was requested at 14:55 hrs.

A roll call of all fire department personnel was conducted, the process revealed that Three Firefighters were missing and could not be accounted for. Efforts were again made to search for the missing firefighter's however the rescue attempts were hampered due the the many collapses of the structure...

The bodies of Firefighters Walter Bawroski and Henry Rayner, Jr were recovered in the rear of the building later that evening. Firefighter James Kimbel's body was recovered the next morning in the center portion of the collapsed building.

 

THOMAS BROWN - 2003

On December 18, 2003, a 55-year old, career Fire Specialist  finished his 14-hour night shift at approximately 0700 hours and went home. He was supposed to return to duty at 1700 hours, but did not return to his station. Since he had not notified station personnel of taking time off, his station Captain contacted the fire station closest to the FS’s home and requested their station personnel go to the FS’s home and check on him. Upon arrival at the FS’s home, fire personnel placed an extension ladder to a second floor bedroom window, ascended the ladder, and saw the FS lying in bed. Attempts to arouse the FF were unsuccessful and forcible entry was made into the home. Tom died of a heart attack while sleeping.

 

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