The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Colorado Springs Local 5 holds a Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony every September in Colorado Springs, Co. to pay tribute to those who died in the Line of Duty. It is attended by hundreds of IAFF members and families of the fallen each year. In 2015, 3,830 historical line-of-duty deaths from 1918 to 1975 were recognized and names were added to the newly rebuilt memorial wall. In total, 7,352 names are etched into the memorial wall. The names include those who died on the job, as well as those who died from toxic exposures, including deadly carcinogens at Ground Zero. Visit the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial website for a list of names on the Wall of Honor and other information.
The following Surrey Fire Fighter members have died in the Line of Duty and have been added to the memorial wall.
Ernie Dombrowski (46 yrs) Nature of Fatal Injury: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2015)
Randy Piticco (61 yrs), Nature of Fatal Injury: Lung Cancer (2015)
Kevin Hegarty (54 yrs), Nature of Fatal Injury: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2015)
Patrick L. Glendinning (57 yrs), Nature of Fatal Injury: Esophageal Cancer (2008)
John W. Watt (57), Nature of Fatal Injury: Esophageal Cancer (2007)
Wendell J. Dicks (55), Nature of Fatal Injury: Brain Cancer (1995)
Always remembered and Never Forgotten
Both Brain Cancer and Esophageal Cancer is recognized by Worksafe BC and is legislated as a presumptive cancer or work-related injury in British Columbia. Although, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is recognized by Worksafe BC as a workplace injury, it is currently not legislated as a presumptive injury. The IAFF is lobbying both provincial and federal governments to recognize Occupational Stress Injury as a presumptive injury.
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