Archives

Last Alarm

Fire Fighter Heroes – Who died in the Lines of Service and of service related illness

Name

Date Deceased

Age

Yrs of Service

Notes

Charles Dawson

Jan 21, 1896

John H. Stewart

Jan 16, 1908

29 yrs, 3 mo

4 yrs

Suffered frost bite at a fire in December, 1907

Edward Molyneux

Mar 09, 1912

24 yrs, 3 mo

1 yr, 1 mo

Charles McPherson

Mar 09, 1912

29 yrs, 1 mo

3 yrs, 7 mo

Thomas W. Starmer

Jan 31, 1913

53 yrs

27 yrs, 3 mo

Harry Adams

June 19, 1914

57 yrs, 1 mo

21 yrs, 9 mo

Anthony Gallager

Aug 14, 1914

25 yrs, 8 mo

1 yr, 9 mo

Frank W. Lunny

Feb 26, 1915

25 yrs, 8 mo

1 yr, 9 mo

Frank W. Lunny

Feb 26, 1915

31 yrs, 11 mo

4 yrs, 2 mo

Peter McRae

June 09, 1915

25 yrs, 8 mo

5 yrs, 5 mo

Fell sliding down pole at 56 Maple St.

William McIllhagga

Feb 02, 1921

36 yrs, 6 mo

5 yrs, 6 mo

Dingwall Block- 62 Albert St.

Building collapse at Winnipeg Theatre

Donald Melville

Dec 23, 1926

41 yrs, 6 mo

14 yrs, 5 mo

Arthur Smith

Dec 23, 1926

38 yrs

14 yrs, 4 mo

Robert Stewart

Dec 23, 1926

37 yrs, 11 mo

7 yrs, 6 mo

Robert S. Shearer

Dec 23, 1926

33 yrs, 8 mo

7 yrs, 2 mo

Fredrick Dolding

Aug 12, 1929

Going to alarm MVA – St James

Alexander Morrison

Aug 12, 1929

Going to alarm MVA – St James

James T. Murray

Mar 31, 1940

50 yrs,9 mo

20 yrs, 9 mo

Frank Sandison

Mar 24, 1945

47 yrs, 8 mo

25 yrs, 10 mo

Robinson & Weber. #198 from #1 Stn. 
Crushed in debris when building collapsed.

James M. Smith

Mar 24, 1945

35 yrs, 8 mo

2 yrs, 5 mo

Robinson Weber – from #15 Stn. 
Struck & killed by falling timber.

Frank Christie

Feb 18, 1952

35 yrs, 3 mo

10 yrs, 2 mo

Kenneth E. Ross

Oct 07, 1954

28 yrs, 9 mo

1 yr, 3 mo

Collapsed at the wheel of fire truck at scene of fire. Corydon & Beaverbrook

Andrew Hebenton

Jan 22, 1955

64 yrs, 6 mo

42 yrs, 7 mo

Heart attack at Minto Armouries fire.

Robert B. D. Beatson

Nov 28, 1955

63 yrs, 4 mo

41 yrs, 8 mo

Overcome by smoke & collapsed at Union Building 
Main & James

Elford A. Knox

Jan 25, 1956

54 yrs, 4 mo

30 yrs, 7 mo

Taken sick and died in hospital.

John E. McEwan

May 24, 1956

61 yrs

29 yrs, 4 mo

#356 Collapsed at scene of fire. 
Pronounced dead at Misericordia Hospital.

John Pitolay

Feb 12, 1973

60 yrs, 6 mo

29 yrs, 8 mo

Alvin N. French

Mar 12, 1973

49 yrs, 8 mo

24 yrs, 9 mo

J. A. Leo Dusablon

June 04, 1976

50 yrs, 8 mo

26 yrs, 11 mo

Suffered a heart attack while Fighting the fire.
Pronounced dead at HSC-General at 02:30.

Robert J. Hughes

Sept 13, 1979

57 yrs, 1 mo

30 yrs, 4 mo

Collapsed at scene of fire on Moray.

M. Guy Lovel

Apr 16, 1986

50 yrs, 9 mo

15 yrs, 5 mo

Heart attack

Lawrence Quinn

June 14, 1990

42 yrs, 3 mo

17 yrs, 2 mo

Fell from pump going to alarm.

List of all fire fighters who died of service-related illnesses is available for download.

The Firefighter’s Prayer

When I’m called to duty god
wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late
or save an older person from
the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and
to give the best in me
to guard my neighbor and
protect his property

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife

– unknown author –

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