Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation

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Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation

Established to support the Maryland Fire & EMS Services honoring those who have given their lives. Hands are reaching out, touching.

Maryland Memorial and its meaning

BETWEEN MORNING AND MIDNIGHT

The Firefighter and EMS provider are ascending the staircase of time as they depart from this world. They are running to their calling to do the job of serving our community with strength, determination and sacrifice as if going to war. The second before their life is consumed they reflect and turn to their loved ones to say their farewells for the last time. The lower area represents our world of family and community occupied by the kneeling mother, supporting child and elderly man. There is room for the visitors to join and take part in the memorial. The upper stairs are raised up and separated from the lower area distinguishing the two worlds, rising above and ascending the staircase. The fire and rescue persons turn to reflect on their departing world. The seven ascending steps represent the seven days of the week. Every day they go to work to serve and protect our lives while never knowing when that tragic day may come. A keystone with the bronze bagpipe signifies the sounds of ceremony and the threshold of the spiritual world. The Firefighter and EMS provider represent all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and also all those who continue and have selflessly served our needs. The kneeling woman represents the mother left behind, shocked, surprised, passionately reaching out to her lost one to touch and say goodbye one last time. The child is consoling and supporting the mother. The elderly man is an old sage who shares knowledge of grief and purpose. As this is a continuing challenge we face, the mother stands for the present time in which we must deal with this sacrifice, the elderly man stands for the past wisdom and understanding of the ways all things fit together, and the child stands for the future and those who will come to show compassion, support and serve. All figures are reaching out to touch, console, say goodbye and share their lost love. The sculpture represents our community showing gratitude while proudly honoring those who serve. Artist Rodney Carroll

Baltimore, MD

09/21/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Joppa Magnolia VFC ~ Harford County ~ Maryland
September 21,1986
On Sunday, September 21,1986 former Chief Calvin L.Cornes was on duty at the firehouse and was cleaning up the fire hall. He left the second floor by way of the outside fire escape, lost his balance, fell down twenty-one metal steps. Tragically, Chief Cornes suffered fatal head injuries.
Chief Calvin L.Cornes was 74 years old and had served for 35 years.

United Communities VFD ~ Queen Anne's County ~ Maryland
September 21, 1998
Firefighter David M. Brinkley had returned to Station 9, having been on a car fire, and was filling SCBA bottles when he suffered a fatal heart attack. Sadly, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Firefighter Brinkley was a Lifetime Member of the United Communities Volunteer Fire Department.
Over the years, he served as President, Chief, Captain, and Pump Operator.
Firefighter David M. Brinkley was 43 years old and had served 25 years

Sandy Spring V.F.D. ~ Montgomery County ~ Maryland.
September 21, 2023

On Wednesday, September 20,2023, Life Member Michael A. McTighe Jr. was on his motorcycle traveling on Urbana Pike, heading home, after attending a Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Membership meeting, when he was involved in a single vehicle collision & was thrown from his motorcycle. He was treated on scene by Frederick County Fire & EMS , then airlifted by Trooper 3 as a Pr.1 Cat A to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.

Sadly, he died from his injuries at 2:21 a.m. on September 21,2023.

Mike McTighe served Sandy Spring VFD since 1990, both as an active member and more recently as a Life Member. He served as the alternate MCVFRA delegate, a former director on the SSVFD Board, and representative at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Mike was always there when the department needed him and his lifelong commitment to SSVFD will be sorely missed.

Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Life Member Michael Augustine McTighe Jr., a Veteran of the United States Air Force, was 71 years old and had faithfully served in the fire service for over 33 years.

09/19/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.
Pioneer Hook & Ladder Company ~ Washington County ~ Maryland
September 19,1919

On Thursday September 18, 1930, Fireman/Driver William Negley was crossing the street at the intersection of Potomac & Franklin Streets when he was struck by an automobile and thrown some 30 feet. Having sustained numerous broken bones and internal injuries he was transported to Washington County Hospital where he died on the morning of September 19,1930.
Fireman/Driver William Negley, a former police officer, was 53 years old and had served 12 years.
++++

09/18/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
September 18,1919
Box No. 235 sounded at 11:10 pm.
Steam Engine No.9 responded, arrived location, and came to a stop on an incline at Madison and Castle Streets . Engineman Daniel Rogers jumped from the back step, intending to chock the big rear wheels, when the motor stalled and the No.9 suddenly drifted backwards, knocking Engineman Rogers to the street ,rolling over and crushing him. Box No .235 turned out to be a false alarm.
Engineman Daniel Rogers' first assignment was Engine No.9 on the first day the station was opened and Engine No.9 is where he remained his entire career.
Engineman Daniel Rogers was 74 years old and had served for 48 years.
Baltimore County FD ~ Baltimore County ~ Maryland
September 18,1961
Assigned to Baltimore County Fire Station No.1, and while on duty at the Towson Fire Station, Lieutenant Clarence W.Belt suffered at fatal heart attack.
Lieutenant Clarence W.Belt was 46 years old and had served 14 years.
Maryland State Police Aviation Command ~ Maryland
September 18, 1973
TFC Parkerson and TFC Rathell were attempting an emergency landing in a Bell Jet Ranger. Tragically, the aircraft crashed ,killing both crew members. The crash occurred in Beltsville near Muirkirk Road and U.S.Route 1 and was reportedly caused by engine failure.
Trooper First Class Charles Straining Rathell was 27 years old and had served 5 years and 8 months.
Trooper First Class Donald Eugene Parkerson ,Jr. was 25 years old and had served 2 years and 2 months.

09/17/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
September 17,1960
On December 1, 1959, Box No. 634 sounded at 8:27 p.m. The old Deluxe Theatre, being used as a storage warehouse, was on fire and by 9:32 p.m. had gone 5 alarms. Firefighter Robert E. Severn (E-12) was overcome by the thick smoke, collapsed with a heart attack, and was transported to Mercy Hospital. Firefighter Severn was never able to return to duty and died on September 17,1960.
Firefighter Robert Elias Severn was 54 years old.
Number of years served are unknown at this time.
..…...…...Maryland Line VFC ~ Baltimore County ~ Maryland
September 17,2000.
On Sunday morning September 17, 2000 at approximately 09:00 Baltimore County units were alerted for a 10-50PI rescue with roll-over on I-83 south of the Maryland /Pennsylvania line . Firefighter Robert W. Humphrey responded to the scene in his personnel vehicle. Firefighter Humphrey arrived on scene and was attempting to cross the highway to assist the victims of the accident when he was struck by a southbound car. He was flown by MSP helicopter to the University of Maryland-Shock Trauma Center, where ,sadly, he died several hours later.
Firefighter Robert W. "Bob" Humphrey was 62 years old and had served 27 years.

09/16/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
September 16,1995
Box No.8623 sounded for a warehouse fire. A 19th century iron foundry, now being used for multiple artist studios, was on fire. Firefighter Eric D. Schaefer, and fellow members of Rescue 1, were attempting to open an overhead door when the roof caved in, collapsing a 2 story granite wall onto the firefighters. Tragically, Firefighter Schaefer was killed instantly and 17 of his fellow firefighters were injured...
Firefighter Eric Dorian Schaefer was 25 years old and had served for 19 months.

09/14/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.
Hurlock Volunteer Fire Co. ~ Dorchester County ~ Maryland
September 14,1974
On January 6, 1961, Leon E. Hurley, age 41, was elected as an Active Member of the Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company.
Leon was dedicated, loyal, and, indeed, an active member of the Hurlock VFC, having served as:
Trustee 1962
Ambulance Lieutenant 1965, 1966
2nd Assistant Chief 1963, 1964, 1973, 1974
1st Assistant Chief 1965,1966,1967
Chief 1969,1970,1971
Sadly, on Saturday September 14,1974, 2nd AC Hurley was in Baltimore on an ambulance transport when he suffered a fatal heart attack while at a Baltimore hospital.
Chief Leon Emory Hurley was 54 years old and had served 13 years & 9 months.
++++++++++++

Comm.Fire Co.of Rising Sun~ Cecil County~Maryland
September 14,1996
On Saturday September 14, 1996, while working at a firehouse function, former EMS Chief Sammy Lee Strall suffered a massive heart attack and was transported to Union Hospital. Sadly, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Sammy Lee Strall, a veteran of the United States Army, was 63 years old and had served over 30 years.

…...
**Our thanks to Hurlock VFC's Brian Tolley for researching & providing Chief Hurley's narrative information.

09/13/2026

.Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
September 13, 1907
Box No.523 sounded at 7:36pm. The Morris & Eckels Co. 404-406 S.Eutaw St. was afire. Ladderman Augustus F. Gesswein (H&L Co.2) was groping his way through the thick smoke on the third floor when he fell down an elevator shaft and was fatally injured.
Ladderman Augustus Frederick Gesswein was 39 years old and had served for 3 1/2 years..
Baltimore County F.D. ~ Baltimore County ~ Maryland
September 13, 1978
Lieutenant Ray W. Smith, Sr. (Dundalk ~ Station 6) returned to the station after a call and collapsed having suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Sadly, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Lieutenant Ray W. Smith Sr., a veteran of WWII, who began his fire department career with Sparrows Point Fire Department/Bethlehem Steel, was 60 years old and had served 31 years..
Urbana Vol.Fire & Rescue ~ Frederick County ~ Maryland
September 13, 2001
Dora J. Wilt was a delegate to the Frederick County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association representing Urbana. As she was entering a fire department utility vehicle to ride to the county association meeting, she became ill and was transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital Emergency Department where, sadly, she later died.
Dora Jane Wilt was 58 years old. Number of years served is unknown at this time.

09/12/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
September 12, 1922
"Box No.446 sounded at 8:45 pm. The Umbrella Factory of William Beehler was afire. The 4 story brick building was charged with smoke and, before it was properly ventilated, a sudden explosion blew out every window in the structure and the fire roared like mad.
Members of Engine Co. No. 7 were ordered to the rooftop with a hosepipe, and were waiting for an opening to be made when an explosion lifted part of the roof. As the men turned and ran, Captain George A. Lenz stepped into an airshaft, fell to the ground ,and was killed
Captain George Alexander Lenz was 42 years old and had served 19 faithful years.
Morningside VFD ~ Prince George's County~ Maryland
September 12, 1983
Firefighter Michael McCarthy was riding the back step of Morningside VFD's E -27 & responding to a reported kitchen fire on Bershire Road. E-273 was responding in from Allentown Road and had to stop and back up, in order to turn onto Bershire Road. E-273's driver was not aware that Firefighter McCarthy had stepped off the back step and, as the engine was being backed up, the right rear wheels rolled over and fatally injured Firefighter McCarthy.
Firefighter Michael P.McCarthy was 25 years old and had served with the Morningside VFD for 18 months.
** Michael P. McCarthy was an active duty 1st Lieutenant in the United States Airforce assigned to Andrews. He was the O.I.C. of the Andrews Emergency Services Team, an elite unit activated in hostage or terrorist situations on the base.
BCFD Fallen Hero narrative paraphrased from "The UnHeralded Heroes" by Wm.Murray

09/11/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
Lutherville VFC ~ Baltimore County ~ Maryland
September 11,1981
Lutherville VFC had been alerted and Firefighter John W. Burch was heading for the firehouse when he tragically fell down a flight of stairs and was fatally injured.
Firefighter John William Burch was 34 years old. Number of years served are unknown at this time.

09/10/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes

District Heights VFD ~ Prince George's County ~ Maryland
September 10, 1958
District Heights Volunteer Fire Chief William H. Wells,Sr died after he fell from a piece of apparatus .
no further information is currently available

Address

101 Calvert Street
Annapolis, MD
21401

Website

http://mdfirerescuehero.org/

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