Line of Duty Deaths
For as long as I can recall, the York City Fire Department has had an accurate listing of all of the line of duty deaths to strike the members of the department and its volunteer fire companies. The names of those fallen firefighters were placed on a monumnet originally erected by the Rescue Fire Company, who later turned it over to the entire department.
On April 27, 2013, Fire Chief Rodeny Miller of the Loganville Fire Company was killed in the line of duty. As the various media outlets were covering the news of his death, it was apparent that no comprehensive list of the firefighters that had died in the line of duty had existed. A York Daily Record article by Rebecca LeFever made note of this, and shared a list of twenty-four fire and EMS responders that had died in the line of duty.
I took it upon myslef to try to compile that comprehensive list. I reached out to as many people and departments as I could to gather information. Since then, other names that were lost to time were discovered and added to the list. And, most unfortunately, several new names were added to the list.
Below you will find the thirty-five known fire and EMS line of duty deaths in York County. May they all rest in peace.
John H. Saltzgiver, Vigilant Fire Company, York City, April 6, 1904
Horace F. Strine, Vigilant Fire Company, York City, April 6, 1904
Lewis M. Strubinger, Vigilant Fire Company, York City, April 6, 1904
Saltzgiver, Strine and Strubinger were crushed and trapped by falling walls while fighting the fire at the York Carriage Works complex on West North Street. The three-alarm fire was sounded from Box 27 at the Variety Iron Works. The wall fell over six hours after the original alarm of fire was sounded. The three men were inside the rear of the building with a hose line when the wall fell.
Elias Spangler, Goodwill Fire Company, York City, Dec. 2, 1909
Spangler was at the Goodwill when an alarm of fire was sounded from Box 19 at King Street and Columbia Avenue. The driver was out of the station for supper. Spangler decided to drive the steamer to the call. Spangler was thrown from apparatus and killed while responding to the fire at 121 Orange Street.
William E. Bush, Rescue Fire Company, York City, June 6, 1915
While preparing the apparatus to drive to an alarm of fire at Box 126, Jackson and Beaver Streets, the horses bolted and Bush was pulled from the apparatus and run over and killed when responding to a garage fire to the rear of 143 West Jackson Street.
Roscoe Gemmill, Eureka Fire Company, Stewartstown, July 17, 1918
On July 6, 1918, a field fire on Rehmeyer's farm was threatening the buildings of Mrs. John W. Kohler. The Eureka hose cart was attached to an automobile by rope to pull it to the fire, and Gemmill rode the hose cart to try to control it. When the auto and hose cart went over a crossing at Manifold's Mill, Gemmill was thrown from the hose cart, striking the ground on his chest and stomach. He was taken home and tended to by Dr. Free. On July 16th he was taken to York Hospital due to complications from those injuries, and succumbed to those injuries at York Hospital on July 17th.
Clifford "Tippy" Findlay, Delta Cardiff Fire Company, Sept. 18, 1919
Findlay and other members were pulling the hose wagon to a fire at the icehouse of Butcher Frank Whitaker. As the wagon was being pulled up an incline on Main Street, Findlay stumbled and fell, and the hose wagon passed over his abdomen. Findlay was carried to the nearby front porch of Doctor R. W. Ramsey, where he died.
Harold E. Strebig, Rex Hook & Ladder Company, York City, Jan. 8, 1928
Strebig was crushed by a wall blown out by a natural gas explosion on the second floor of the Susquehanna Garage at 825 Cleveland Ave. during a structure fire. The two-alarm fire was sounded from Box 126 at Jackson and Beaver Streets.
Walter F. Hugentugler, Rescue Fire Company, York City, May 11, 1934
Hugentugler died as a result of injuries sustained on May 8, 1934 when he slipped under apparatus in front of the Rex fire station and had his right leg broken and his left hip dislocated. The apparatus was responding to a fire alarm from Box 138 at College Avenue and Hartley Street.
John A. Peters, Grantley Fire Company, Spring Garden Twp., April 6, 1937
Peters, a relief or extra driver for the three Spring Garden Township fire companies, was driving the Grantley apparatus to a report of a brush fire on the road leading from the Susquehanna Trail to Queen Street, east of Violet Hill. It was determined that no fire department assistance was needed. As Peters was about to turn the apparatus around to return to the station, he slumped over the steering wheel. Firemen rushed him to the nearby York Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival about 6:00 p.m.
Eugene Greiman, Laurel Fire Company, York City, Oct. 29, 1940
Greiman responded to Box 131 at College and Pershing Avenues. Greiman was operating the Laurel booster engine at the scene of a fire at 242 West Princess Street when he collapsed. Greiman was rushed to the hospital in a police car, where he was pronounced dead from a coronary occlusion.
Henry F. W. Rudy, Eagle Fire Company, York City, Feb. 25, 1943
Rudy tried to board and fell from a moving apparatus and was killed. The engine was responding to a grass fire sounded from Box 53, Vander and Boundary Avenues.
George E. Hutton, New Freedom Ambulance, November 27, 1948
Hutton and his father-in-law responded with the New Freedom ambulance to a report of an injured hunter in Midland, Maryland. There they found Russell L. Poe, Jr. suffering from wounds from his shotgun discharging while he was crossing a fence. Poe and his father were en route to York Hospital in the ambulance, with Hutton driving. At 12:45 p.m., a piece of steel, two feet by four feet, blew from the roof of an automobile driving the opposite direction on the Susquehanna Trail near Shrewsbury. The steel penetrated the windshield of the ambulance, instantly killing Hutton. The ambulance traveled another 500 feet, shearing off two utility poles before stopping in a field. Richard Strasbaugh, Hutton's father-in-law, who was riding in the passenger seat, was treated for shock and a head injury. The Poes, riding in the back of the ambulance, were uninjured.
Clyde C. Hedrick, Rose Fire Company, New Freedom, December 1, 1951
Hedrick responded with Rose Fire Company to assist the Maryland Line Fire Company at a barn fire. Hedrick was working as a fire police officer directing traffic on the Susquehanna Trail north of the fire scene. At 5:30 p.m., a car driven by Robert H. Gunther of York struck Hedrick, killing him instantly. Hedrick's body landed sixty-five feet from the point of impact, and Gunther's car left 111 feet of skid marks. Gunther was charged with manslaughter by vehicle by Baltimore County Police.
N. Jay Leader, Jacobus Lions Club Ambulance, March 2, 1957
Leader was driving the Jacobus Lions Club ambulance, which responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars and a tractor-trailer on the Susquehanna Trail two miles south of Loganville. Seven people were injured in the collision. Leader had just brought several victims to the Emergency Room at York Hospital, when he suddenly collapsed in the Emergency Room. Leader was unable to be revived.
J. William Wills, Vigilant Fire Company, York City, March, 29, 1957
Wills died at York Hospital from smoke inhalation and an existing cardiac condition after being transported from a two-alarm fire at the Rothert Building at 42 through 52 South George Street.
James Yohe, Wrightsville Steam Fire Engine & Hose Company, November 14, 1961
Firefighter Yohe responded with his department to a car fire inside Strickler's Auto Service at Ninth and Hellam Streets. Yohe and Firefighter Wilmer Oakes entered the building to fight the fire. Oakes noticed a pan of flammable liquid on fire under the vehicle, and exited the building to obtain a pike pole to move the pan. As Oakes returned to the building, Yohe was on fire fleeing the building, and succumbed to his injuries.
Donald R. Harrison, York City Fire Department, Feb. 25, 1971
While returning to the station from a training exercise, a large tree fell across the cab of the tractor-drawn aerial truck he was riding in, pinning him to the back of the cab. Harrison died later that evening at the hospital.
Paul E. Ahrens, Eagle Fire Company, Mount Wolf, March 24, 1981
Ahrens, 47, responded in his personal vehicle to a residential structure fire in East Manchester Township. Personnel arriving at the scene of the fire found Ahrens slumped in his truck at the fire scene shortly before 8:00 a.m. Ahrens was transported to Memorial Osteopathic Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Donald L. Myers, Jefferson Fire Company, October 18, 1981
Myers was operating at the scene of a structure fire on Blue Hill Road in Manheim Township. The fire was extinguished, and Myers was preparing to leave the scene when he was stricken with a cardiac event. Myers was transported to the hospital where he was eventually pronounced dead.
James A. Fogle, Newberrytown Fire Company, Jan. 5, 1982
Fogle was responding to a chimney fire when he suffered a seizure as the result of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and fell from the apparatus on Susquehanna Trail north of Stevens Road. Despite attempts to revive him, Fogle was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Wilbur Stough, Franklintown Fire Company, Nov. 28, 1982
Stough responded to the Franklintown fire station to answer an alarm of fire. While in the station, Stough collapsed from an apparent heart attack. The Dillsburg ambulance responded to the station, and transported Stough to Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill. Stough dies at the hospital.
Gregory A. Stauffer, Jefferson Fire Company, August 9, 1983
Stauffer responded with his fire company to a report of an electrocution at Christ UCC Church on Baltimore Street in Jefferson. At the scene they found two victims that had been electrocuted when their 40 foot ladder contacted electric transmission lines. The ladder was in an awkward position, so Stauffer and another firefighter attempted to secure the unstable ladder when it contacted the electric lines a second time. Stauffer was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Thomas E. Hicks, Citizens Fire Company, Fawn Grove, Dec. 17, 1990
On December 16, 1990, Firefighter Hicks responded on Engine 56-1 to a cardiac call. He was riding on the rear step, when an automobile struck the left side of the engine (engine did not stop at the stop sign). The apparatus rolled over and Firefighter Hicks was pinned under the wreckage. He was extricated and airlifted to the hospital, but died during surgery a short time later. Four other firefighters were injured in the crash, two of them riding the tail step with Hicks.
Paul E. Moyer, Yoe Fire Company, Dec. 2, 1993
Moyer had responded to assist on an emergency medical call, and returned to the station. Upon arriving at the station, Moyer reported that he wasn't feeling well, and sat down in a chair in the radio room, at which time he suffered a cardiac event and died.
Douglas Rohrbaugh, Laurel Fire Company, Windsor, June 26, 1998
Fire Police Lieutenant Rohrbaugh was directing traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle collision. He was struck from the rear by a pickup truck. The pickup left the scene without stopping. Lieutenant Rohrbaugh was thrown 97 feet and landed along the side of the road. EMS was provided at the scene but Lieutenant Rohrbaugh's injuries were too severe.
Ronald Eugene Kaltreider, Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Company, Dec. 29, 1999
Safety Officer Kaltreider had been at the fire station for most of the day performing year end computer work and assuring that his department was prepared for Y2K. As he discussed the upcoming purchase of some communications equipment with another firefighter, he was struck with a heart attack. Firefighters immediately began attempts to revive Firefighter Kaltreider, but they were unsuccessful. Firefighter Kaltreider had a history of heart disease dating back to 1990.
Herbert C. Caldwell III, Newberry Township Fire Department, Dec. 17, 2004
Firefighter Caldwell and a passenger were responding in Firefighter Caldwell's personal vehicle to a report of smoke in a residence. As they drove, Firefighter Caldwell began to cough up blood. He pulled the car to the side of the road, and the passenger summoned assistance using a fire department radio. Despite efforts at the scene, in transit, and at the hospital, Firefighter Caldwell died. Firefighter Caldwell suffered from a thoracic aneurysm, the failure of a blood vessel.
Douglas Farrington, Delta Cardiff Fire Company, Aug. 23, 2010
On August 22, 2010, Firefighter Farrington responded to his fire station for a mutual-aid barn fire. He missed the response but remained in the fire station to staff a backup engine. Firefighter Farrington was at the fire station for about an hour and assisted other firefighters in cleaning and putting the equipment back in service when they returned from the response. Firefighter Farrington went home at approximately 2230 hours. The next day, Firefighter Farrington worked in the morning at his full-time job as a fire inspector and then left work to complete a mowing job. At 1105 hours, Firefighter Farrington momentarily lost consciousness. Another firefighter assisting with the mowing job called for EMS. When the ambulance arrived, Firefighter Farrington had gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 1219 hours after arriving at the hospital. His death was caused by a heart attack. Incident Location: 690 Nace Road in Peach Bottom Township.
Christian D. Beaston, Jr., Hellam Fire Company, December 7, 2011
On December 6, 2011 at 3:10 p.m., Fire Police Officer Beaston responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Beaston manned a traffic control point for the duration of the incident. The next day, Beaston suffered a cardiac event at home. An ambulance from Wrightsville and an advanced life support unit from Memorial Hospital responded to his home, and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Rodney P. Miller, Loganville Fire Company, April 27, 2013
While directing traffic near the scene of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) on southbound Interstate 83, Fire Chief Miller was struck and killed by a motorist attempting to drive around the traffic control point and Miller's fire department vehicle which was well marked with emergency lights operating at the time. The driver of the vehicle did not stop his vehicle after striking the chief. After being caught further down the Interstate in the backed traffic from the original MVA, the driver was arrested and subsequently charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence along with several other violations. Incident Location: Southbound I-83 near Exit 8.
Curtis E. Nordsick, Sr., Wrightsville Fire Company, April 19, 2015
On April 19, 2015, Fire Police Lieutenant Nordsick responded with other members of the Wrightsville Fire Police at the request of the police department to help secure the scene of a homicide in Wrightsville borough. Nordsick was relieved to take a break around 8:30 p.m. and returned to the nearby fire station, where he complained of not feeling well and later collapsed. Resuscitation efforts were begun immediately. Nordsick was transported to Memorial Hospital in York where he succumbed.
Earl Shoemaker, Eagle Fire Company, Hanover, March 12, 2016
On March 12, 2016, units from the Hanover Fire Department were dispatched on a mutual aid call for a residential structure fire on Pumping Station Road in West Manheim Township. Shoemaker was the operator and sole occupant of the department's air cascade unit. As Shoemaker was traveling on Baltimore Pike, he suffered a medical emergency. The apparatus left the roadway and traveled several hundred yards through a field, coming to a stop with the cab hanging over a creek bed. Shoemaker was rescued from the vehicle in cardiac arrest and transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Ivan K. Flanscha, York City Fire Department, March 22, 2018
Zachary J. Anthony, York City Fire Department, March 22, 2018
On March 21, 2018, units from the York City Fire Department were dispatched to the former Weaver Piano & Organ factory at 127 North Broad Street for a structure fire. The fire eventually went to three alarms, and engulfed the four-story building. Twenty-three hours into the incident, a crew of four firefighters was in the building attempting to extinguish pockets of fire when they were trapped by a partial building collapse. The crew was rescued and transported to York Hospital. Flanscha and Anthony succumbed to their injuries.
Grant L. Froman, Dover Township Fire Department, June 6, 2018
On June 6, 2018, Grant Froman, a fire police officer, took Service 9, a Ford F150 pickup truck, to his residence to perform maintenance on the vehicle. A neighbor found him unconscious in his driveway, with a tool in his hand. The neighbor called 911 and initiated emergency care. Froman was transported to the hospital where he died from a cardiac event.
Robert Kohler, Sr., Northeastern Area EMS, December 25, 2018
On December 25, 2018, Robert Kohler, Sr. was discovered unconscious from a medical emnergency while on duty at the EMS station around 8:30 a.m. Crews immediately rendered care, and Kohler was transported to York Hospital where he passed away from a coronary event that afternoon.
Edward Bookmyer, Craley Fire Department, January 30, 2021
On January 24, 2021, Edward Bookmyer, chief engineer for the fire company, returned to the fire station after a response to an emergency incident. He was working on a piece of fire apparatus in the fire station when he suffered a medical emergency. Bookmyer was transported to the hospital where he passed away on January 30, 2021.