By Randy Ludlow
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Copyright 2006 The Columbus Dispatch
All Rights Reserved
Once again, and all too soon, the American flag at Station 2 Downtown flies at half-staff in memory of a fallen firefighter.
On Saturday, Samuel Nichols III, 28, became the second helmetless firefighter from the station to die in a motorcycle crash when his bike collided with a car in Fairfield County.
Lt. Richard Mileff, 43, died July 11 when he was thrown from his motorcycle after it struck a curb not far from his home on the Northeast Side.
The succession of off-duty tragedies is difficult for the tight-knit firefighters who work out of the busy station at S. 4th and Fulton streets.
“They’re having a real tough time ... to lose two firefighters in six weeks’ time,” said Battalion Chief Doug Smith.
Members of the Fire Division’s critical-incident stress-management team were summoned to Station 2 yesterday to counsel grieving firefighters.
Nichols, who lived west of Lancaster with his wife, Leah, and young daughter, was a go-getter, Smith said.
He started as a rookie at Station 2 in late 2002, then transferred to a North Side station. But he found it too quiet and wrangled a return to No. 2, Smith said.
“Sam loved to stay busy and help people,” the chief said. Nichols was an unassigned “floater” who would jump on whatever piece of equipment needed a firefighter.
The American flag also was at half-staff outside the Pleasant-Walnut Township Fire Department in Pleasantville in Fairfield County, where Nichols worked part time.
He died when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by Dwight Auman, 86, who was attempting to turn left into the driveway of his home on Winchester Road in Bloom Township. His wife and passenger, Dorothy, 88, also died in the crash.
Neither Nichols nor Mileff, a 17-year veteran, was wearing a helmet -- a growing concern to Ohio traffic-safety enforcement officers.
“Firefighters, without a doubt, see a lot of motorcycle accidents throughout their career,” Smith said. “But once again, it’s the choice they ultimately made. It’s part of the freedom of living in this state and country.”
The State Highway Patrol has lamented a spike in the number of fatal crashes involving motorcyclists and has urged both riders and motorists to be more alert for the other.
Last year, 177 motorcyclists were killed on Ohio roads -- the most since 196 died in 1987. Nearly three-fourths of those killed last year were not wearing helmets.
Through the end of June, 61 motorcyclists had died this year, including five in Franklin County and one each in Licking, Madison and Union counties.
Nichols was carrying a helmet on his motorcycle but was not wearing it, said Trooper Chad McMunn, of the Lancaster post.
“Wearing a helmet may have made a little bit of difference,” the trooper said.
“Any time there’s a helmet, it’s going to make a difference when it comes to head trauma.”