WEST UNION, Ill. — An Illinois community is mourning the loss of firefighter Lance Stone, 37, who died in a single-vehicle crash en route to a fire after his vehicle left the roadway, rolled, and he was ejected, according to WTHITV.com.
On Sunday, family and friends gathered to remember him at his second home — the West Union Fire Department.
“We’ve never lost anyone like this out of the fire department,” said Fire Chief Bill Crumrin. “It’s just something you don’t expect to happen here.”
Chief Crumrin has been fire chief at the department for 37 years and still remembers when Lance joined the team, according to WTHITV.com.
“He got into that because he had a fire himself,” Chief Crumrin said. “He wanted to do something to help with those situations.”
Eugene Miller, a fellow firefighter, said, “Lance was the type of guy, he would do anything he could to help anybody out. He was more than a firefighter, he was a best friend.”
WTHITV.com reported that Firefighter Stone’s only thought was to get to the scene as quickly as possible, because in every emergency, time is an enemy.
“You try not to get tunnel vision,” said Miller. “The first thing that runs through your mind is ‘ok, I have to get to the station, I have to get my gear on, and I have to get that truck out that door to go help our community.’”
For this small community, where everybody knows everyone, the tragic death of Lance hurts even more.
“The next call we have, we’re going to be thinking about Lance,” said Miller, “and I pray to God that he’s my angel the next time I have to go do my job.”
Firefighter Stone leaves behind a wife and five children. WTHITV.com reported that the West Union Fire Department is discussing ways to honor Lance.