By FireRescue1 Staff
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. — After a firefighter and his wife were killed in a tornado Wednesday, colleagues gathered to discuss his impact on the department.
Mark Faulk Jr. and his wife, Sandra, were in a mobile home when a tornado struck in Tennessee.
“He loved the fire department, he loved what it represented,” Bloomingdale council member Ernest Gizzard told WTOC. “He loved to work with the neighbors and kids.”
Gizzard and Bloomingdale Fire Chief Ferman Tyler delivered the news of Faulk’s death to his mother and sister.
Faulk joined the fire service as soon as he was old enough; his father was one of the city’s original firefighters.
“As much time as he could, when he could get off, he would be here,” Chief Tyler said. “And he maintained his volunteer status.”
Apart from serving the department, Faulk also participated in community events, like the department’s annual children’s Christmas party.
“He had actually just talked to my wife last night about making sure to be here in time for our event that we have scheduled this Saturday,” Chief Tyler said. “They were supposed to be leaving tomorrow to be back in time for that.”
Chief Tyler said Faulk would want those affected by his death to “keep moving forward. And I think that is the biggest thing we can do.”