32 years ago today, 6 Kansas City firefighters were killed in what will forever be remembered as one of the worst multiple firefighter line of duty deaths in the country up to that point. As a result of this tragedy, many new standards and federal regulations were put into place for both public and firefighter safety.
KCFD Pumpers 30 & 41 were responding to a report of a truck on fire at a construction site.
*The following information was provided by The Kansas
City Star in a story last year.
From Pumper 30:
-Gerald C. Halloran, 57, had served more than 37 years and was
considering retirement at the end of 1988.
-Luther Eugene Hurd, 31, normally worked at Station 23 but
volunteered to fill in at Station 30 that night. He was a 10-year
veteran of the department.
-Thomas Fry, 41, and had been a firefighter for more than 15 years.
From Pumper 41:
-James H. Kilventon Jr., 54, had served more than 27 years on the
force.
-Michael R. Oldham, 32, an 11-year veteran of the department. His
father had been a firefighter.
-Robert D. McKarnin, 42, had spent almost 20 years with the KCFD -
serving all that time at Station 41.
KCFD's "Hazmat 71" is numbered in honor of those members who came from Stations 30 & 41.
Remember this very well. 😔
One of the life events that you remember where you were & what you were doing when the explosion rocked the city😢
Remember very well.
I remember
So sad
I live in LS and remember hearing this explosion! Wasn't till later I found out what it was! Still unbelievably sad🥺
Thank you to ALL public servants, military personnel both here and abroad, and retail workers for your dedication but please especially remember and pray for our B-shifters and those on overtime at the stations, our dispatchers, and our LSPD officers and all of the staff working in our hospitals during this time working tirelessly to keep our great Lee's Summit residents safe.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and thank you for your terrific service. Be safe!
And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, too. May those who work: Be safe.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.