By FireRescue1 Staff
WINNISQUAM, N.H. — A fire chief who died in the line of duty over 63 years ago will be honored for his sacrifice this year.
Concord Monitor reported that Fire Chief Chester Brickett will be posthumously honored with a “line of duty death” distinction after investigative work revealed the circumstances surrounding his death.
Brickett’s name will be added to a panel at the New Hampshire’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial as part of an annual service. He will also receive the “Paul Sypek Medal of Valor” award.
State Fire Marshall J. William Degnan made the ruling on Brickett’s 1954 death this year after finding documents that said Brickett was “stricken behind the wheel” while responding to a fire. His cause of death was ruled a heart attack.
“Whether you passed away last week, 25 years ago or 50 years ago, the fire service is still a brotherhood,” Mutual aid chief coordinator Jonathan Goldman said. “In the fire service in general, we’d be remiss to not bring honors to the people who deserve them.”