BAUSMAN, Pa. — A widow of a fallen firefighter who died four years ago in the line of duty finally received her husband’s benefits this week.
Lancaster Online reported that firefighter Keith Rankin, with the Lancaster Township (Pa.) Fire Department, collapsed and died during a live-burn training exercise in 2011.
His wife, Abby, and her family will receive a federal benefit of approximately $318,000.
“Twenty-three years,” she said, referencing her late husband’s volunteer career. “He earned it.”
She said the funds will help her two daughters with college and other costs.
An Office of the Inspector General audit released in July found that about 56 percent of claims to the Public Safety Officer’s Benefits program were processed within a year.
“Of the 650 claims that were pending at the time of our audit, 69 claims had been pending for more than three years,” the audit said.