By Peggy Lim
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Photo courtesy of Parrish Funeral Home Chief George E. Crocker.

ARCHER LODGE, N.C. — George E. Crocker found his best friend, fiancee and life's calling in firefighting. Now, some wonder whether that calling may have played a part in how the Pine Level fire chief met his end.

Star Webster, a Morrisville firefighter, discovered her fiance dead in his Archer Lodge home Sunday morning. He was 32.

Crocker joined the Pine Level volunteer fire department around 1997, his best friend, Phillip McDaniel, said. Crocker took over as Pine Level chief in 2007, when then-Chief McDaniel became Selma's fire chief. The two continued to see each other during mutual aid calls to fires and in their downtime.

"We would eat together, play together, ride motorcycles together," McDaniel said.

Crocker, a graduate of North Johnston High School, worked previously at a Raleigh rock quarry and delivering milk in Micro, McDaniel said. But in 2002, Crocker channeled his love for volunteer firefighting into a full-time job with the Raleigh Fire Department. He liked to "help people and also see some excitement," McDaniel said.

Crocker was on duty at Engine 12, a Raleigh fire station off Poole Road, an average of 56 hours a week, said Raleigh Fire Chief John McGrath. He was highly respected by his peers, McGrath said, thanks to his enthusiasm, his willingness to help others and his consistency in arriving early to work.

Like other firefighters, Crocker had an air pack to filter air for breathing when he was battling fires, McGrath said. But responding to emergency scenes always carries some risk of inhaling smoke particles that could have a residual effect, McGrath said.

"We work in a toxic atmosphere," McGrath said.

A few years back, Crocker experienced some respiratory problems, McDaniel said. He had difficulty breathing for a few days.

"And just the sheer fact how we respond, spur of the moment," McDaniel said. "It's stressful on your system."

It's unclear whether the cause of Crocker's death was related to smoke inhalation or some other health condition. Autopsy results are pending, said Johnston County Fire Marshal Matt Chestnut. State officials are also investigating whether Crocker's death would qualify as having been "in the line of duty" — that is, within 24 hours of responding to an incident. Crocker had responded to a fire in Selma and three EMS calls Saturday, Chestnut said.

The family will receive friends at the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium of Johnston Community College in Smithfield from 6 to 9 p.m today. A funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium. Burial will be in a Crocker family cemetery near Pine Level.

Memorial contributions may be made to the N.C. Fallen Firefighters Foundation, 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 150, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Copyright 2008 The News and Observer