By Mara H. Gottfried
The Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Fire Department began a new effort this month to honor fallen comrades.
On the anniversary of each of the 59 line-of-duty deaths, a dispatch radio announcement is read, describing the incident and deceased firefighter. A moment of silence follows. Fire Chief Tim Butler implemented the practice at the recommendation of Patrick Conner, a firefighter and paramedic.
“The announcement is a stark reminder of the deadly nature of our work and the sacrifice and service of our department members,” Butler said in a statement Tuesday.
February has been one of the deadliest months in the department’s 156-year history. Seven died in separate fires in February, second only to October when eight firefighters died; five of them were killed in one fire, the department said.
The second month of the year also has been a dangerous one for injuries. On Feb. 15, 1978, 49 firefighters were injured in several natural-gas explosions at the Commodore Hotel on Western Avenue.
The most recent St. Paul firefighter death in the line of duty was Nov. 14, 2009. Ramon “Ray” Hain, who was also an emergency medical technician, came in contact with a patient’s body fluids in 1997 and doctors think he contracted a rare disease that weakened his heart and ultimately killed him. The 50-year-old’s death was considered in the line of duty.
Copyright 2011 St. Paul Pioneer Press
All Rights Reserved