COMPANY PAYS RESPECTS AND HONORS FALLEN FIREFIGHTER GENE KIRCHNER

In the early morning hours of April 24th, Reisterstown and other area units responded to a dwelling fire with reported people trapped. Upon arrival, units found heavy fire on the second and third floors, with entrapment. Crews from Reisterstown started search and rescue efforts with a Mayday declared shortly after. Firefighter/EMT GENE KIRCHNER from Reisterstown suffered critical injuries and was transported to shock trauma. After being at shock trauma for almost two weeks, firefighter Gene Kirchner succumbed to his injuries. Sunday, May 5th, 2013 was the day this brave hero would be laid to rest. After having an engine fill-in for Reisterstown earlier that week, Hampstead made the preparation to honor this fallen hero. Early Sunday morning, units and members from Hampstead headed to Reisterstown with the ladder Truck, Engine 23, and Utility 2-1. Truck 2 and Truck 297 (Providence) set the aerial ladders up in front of company 41 to hold an American flag high in the air. The Reisterstown units transported Gene to the front of the firehouse where Gene would receive his last call. From there, company 41 units took Gene to Har Sinai Congregation where the service was held. Truck 2 and Truck 297 relocated to company 50's headquarters (Chestnut Ridge) and again set up the American flag. After the service, the extremely long procession filled with fire apparatus from Pennsylvania all the way to the eastern shore and more, left the church en route to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens where they would pass company 50. Crew members from Hampstead, Providence, and Chestnut Ridge all stood at attention, saluting firefighter Kirchner as he passed by the station. Units again packed up quickly and joined the procession to the place where firefighter Kirchner would be laid to rest. A short ceremony at the burial site with over 1000 firefighters from across the state, as well as honor guards, and pipes and drums stood silently as fallen firefighter and hero Gene Kirchner was laid to rest. It was a long day, but a prestigious one. The members of the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company would like to present their most sincere condolences to the family of fallen firefighter Gene Kirchner, as well as the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company on their loss. Gene was a great man, a friend to many, and a committed brother of the fire service. Gene, your work will not go unnoticed. Rest easy brother. We'll take it from here.