Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation

06/23/2026

..Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes....
Bittinger VFD ~ Garrett County ~ Maryland
June 23, 2005
Bittinger VFD's Chief "Pete" Buckel , was responding from his residence to a 9-1-1 call. Tragically, as he was proceeding to his vehicle to begin his response he collapsed having suffered a fatal heart attack. Chief Joseph W. "Pete" Buckel was 67 years old.
Number of years served unknown at this time.

06/23/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.
Guardian Hose Company ~ Frederick County ~ Maryland
June 21,1973
Firefighter Douglas Wayne Finneyfrock was responding in his vehicle to the Guardian Hose Co. for a call. He lost control of his vehicle on rain slick Rt. 77, struck a pole, and was fatally injured.
Firefighter Douglas Wayne Finneyfrock was 33 years old.
Number of years served are unknown at this time.

06/23/2026

...Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes....
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
June 20, 1957
On November 28, 1956 , an 8 alarm fire at the C.O.Wurzberger & Sons, in the 2600 block of Annapolis Avenue, destroyed huge piles of lumber stored at the architectural millwork company. While battling the blaze, Firefighter Willard Moxley ,Water Tower Co.No.1, suffered a massive heart attack the damage from which would ultimately claim his life on June 20,1957.
Firefighter Willard C.Moxley was 41 years old.
Number of years served are unknown at this time.

06/22/2026

06/19/2026

..Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes...
Glen Burnie VFD ~ Anne Arundel County ~ Maryland
June 19, 1964
While transporting a patient to South Baltimore General Hospital, Firefighter Lawrence J. Corcoran, lost control of the ambulance he was driving due to wet pavement, crashed into a sign post , and was fatally injured .
Firefighter Lawrence J. Corcoran was 27 years old and had served 9 years.

06/18/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.
Guardian Hose Company ~ Frederick County ~ Maryland
June 18, 1898
About 2 a.m. Saturday morning , the Crescite Excelsior Works & several adjoining buildings located in Thurmont were seen to be on fire.
While within reach of the water, the fire had gained so great headway before discovery that the fire department could not save the main building, saw mill, and machinery; but, by hard work ,the fire in the office & in an attached building was conquered .
During the progress of the fire, the iron smoke stack fell among the firemen. All escaped injury except for Harry C.Root who received the full force of the falling stack striking him on the head and crushing the upper portion of his body. Death came instantly.
Firefighter Harry C. Root was 39 years old.
Number of years served are unknown at this time.
*****
Baltimore City Fire Department ~ Baltimore ~ Maryland
June 18, 1919
While out on driver's training, Firefighter Walter F. Musgrove was fatally injured when he lost his balance, fell from the back step of the engine, and struck his head on the roadway.
Firefighter Walter F. Musgrove was 48 years old and had faithfully served for 22 years.
****
Fallen Hero Root narrative paraphrased from the Monday June 20,

06/16/2026

.Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Waldorf VFD ~ Charles County ~ Maryland
June 16, 1953.
Chief Ager was in the station working on a piece of apparatus when he slipped & fell onto the concrete floor. After the fall he developed groin pain but felt it was nothing more than an inconvenient pulled muscle. Unbeknownst to Chief Ager, his fall resulted in the formation of a blood clot.
Tragically, on June 16,1953, the blood clot travelled to his brain causing a fatal stroke.
Chief Elmer Robert Ager, Sr. was 47 years old. Number of years served is unknown at this time.

******
Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Boulevard Heights Volunteer & Rescue ~ Prince George's County ~ Maryland

On June 16, 1967, while fighting a fire in Districts Heights, Firefighter Phillip E. Tierney suffered a fatal heart attack.

Firefighter Phillip E. Tierney's age & number of years served are unknown at this time.

06/15/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Beth Steel ~ Sparrows Point F.D. ~ Baltimore County ~ Maryland

June 15,1949
John George Zulauf was born in Canton in 1894 . At age 11, he went to work with a broom maker and continued in that trade until age 23 when he was hired by Baltimore County as a firefighter. He was first assigned to the Highlandtown Fire Department & after Highlandtown was annexed by Baltimore City, he worked out of Baltimore County’s Catonsville, Essex, & Dundalk stations. While at Dundalk, he was promoted to Captain.
In 1928, at the age of 34, Captain Zulauf left the BCoFD and went to work in the supply department at Beth Steel Sparrows Point. Two months later, management transferred him to the Beth Steel Sparrows Point Fire Department to serve as the Assistant Chief & in 1942 he was promoted to Chief.
On June 15, 1949, Chief Zulauf was on duty , driving to Fort Howard, when he suddenly fell ill & stopped at the home of a friend for help. He suffered a heart attack & died at the home of his friend before a physician arrived.
Chief Zulauf was a member, or honorary member, of numerous volunteer fire companies throughout the State of Maryland, an active member of his church & Masonic Lodge , and a leader in the Sparrows Point Boy Scout Troop.
Chief John George Zulauf was 55 years old and had served in the fire service for 32 years.

Marlboro VFD ~ Prince George's County ~ Maryland
June 15,1978
While responding mutual aid to Anne Arundel County, Marlboro VFD's Engine 201 was involved in an accident with rollover on Route 301 and Croon Station Road that fatally injured Firefighter James M. O'Connor .
Firefighter James M. O'Connor was 20 years old.
Number of years served are unknown at this time.

06/12/2026

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.
Arundel VFD ~ Anne Arundel County ~ Maryland
June 12,1993
James Bryan Housenfluck ,while attending the MSFA Convention as a Delegate for Arundel VFD, was struck by an auto and fatally injured while crossing Coastal Highway.
Arundel VFD Delegate James Bryan Housenfluck was 20 years old and had served 6 years.

06/11/2026

.Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes.

Salisbury Fire Department ~ Wicomico County ~ Maryland.
June 11,2018
After serving 5 + years in the Maryland National Guard during the early 1980’s,
David A. Insley, Jr, began his fire department career as a volunteer serving with the Mardela Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1990, David was hired by the Salisbury Fire Department as a career Firefighter/Paramedic and over the years advanced to the rank of Captain. He was an active member of several special operations teams including the Underwater Recovery Team, SFD HazMat Team, the HEAT Team, he became the commander & instructor of the Marine Operations & Dive Team, and he responded as one of the “Salisbury Nine” in support of search & rescue efforts in Slidell, Louisiana and surrounding areas following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
During his many years serving in the fire department, Captain Insley was exposed to numerous carcinogens & toxins. Near the end of his career with the Salisbury Fire Department he was diagnosed with lung cancer and began treatments. Captain Insley retired in 2017 and, after a courageous battle with cancer, Captain Insley passed away on June 11,2018.
In 2023, Captain Insley’s death was recognized as a Line Of Duty Death due to occupational cancer from exposure and he was added to the National Fallen Firefighters Roll Of Honor.
Captain David Alan Insley, Jr. was 56 years old and had faithfully served the citizens of Maryland, and beyond, for over 30 years.