By Craig Civale
WFAA-TV via The Dallas Morning News
LANCASTER, Texas — For the second time in recent weeks, Lancaster is mourning the death of one of its first responders.
Firefighter Joel Otwell, 50, died Thursday of injuries he suffered from a fall at church. The 21-year veteran was off duty at the time.
Otwell’s death comes a month after Lancaster police Officer Craig Shaw was killed while responding to a call at an apartment complex. Otwell was one of the first to arrive at that scene of that crime, committed by the son of the Dallas police chief.
Fire Chief Dick Knopf called it a difficult day for the city, which lost a firefighter who was well-liked and respected in the department.
“When you lose one person to a hostile act, that’s horrible,” he said. “Then we lose a second - that’s tragic.”
The police and fire departments have a close relationship in Lancaster. There are fewer than 100 officers and firefighters combined, and the departments have their headquarters in the same building.
Police leaned heavily on fire crews for support after Shaw’s death on June 20, and now Assistant Fire Chief Larry Flatt says they are returning the favor.
“We’re still grieving our loss,” Flatt said. “Now we’re grieving with them over their loss.”
Services for Otwell will be held Monday at the Denton Bible Church in Denton.
Copyright 2010 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS