Kansas Firefighters Museum

09/26/2023

09/24/2023

Bryon Johnson
Sedgwick County Fire Department - September 24, 2007
The fire department communications center received several calls reporting a brush fire that may have been caused by downed power lines. Squad 34, under the command of Lieutenant Johnson, When the unit arrived on the scene, power lines were visible in the street. Firefighters advanced a handline and began to control the fire. In order to access a portion of the fire, the apparatus had to be backed up. Lieutenant Johnson advanced the hose line and his engineer drove the apparatus. The 2 firefighters communicated by hand signal. Lieutenant Johnson was hitting hot spots with the handline. His engineer viewed him in the rear view mirror. The engineer saw Lieutenant Johnson stiffen and fall. The engineer stopped the apparatus, got out, and found Lieutenant Johnson on his back. The engineer recognized the presence of an energized power line. With some difficulty, the engineer pulled Lieutenant Johnson away from the hazard. The engineer called to another firefighter that had just arrived on the scene for help. The firefighter reported the incident, ordered the dispatch of an ambulance, and requested a command officer and additional firefighters. Lieutenant Johnson was transported to the hospital but did not survive. The cause of death was listed as electrocution. The fallen power line that caused the grass fire was the result of a pole being struck by a truck making a u-turn.
Age: 32

09/21/2023

Edwin E. King
Reno County Fire District #7 - September 21, 2005
Chief King was driving a brush truck in response to a controlled burn that had become uncontained. Conditions were smoky, and the dirt road that Chief King was driving on was only 20 feet wide. Chief King's brush truck collided head-on with his department's tanker (tender) as it responded to the same incident. Chief King was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver of the tanker was not injured.
Age: 55

09/17/2023

09/17/2023

Open ICT Street the Kansas Firefighters Museum is at

09/16/2023

Raymond Hazuka
Wakeeney Fire Department - September 16, 1991
Firefighter Hazuka suffered from a heart attack while operating at house fire.
Age: 54

09/14/2023

09/14/2023

Reminder that deadline to sign up for Pickleball Tournament is this Friday. Email your teams to Kelly Zane. No money due at sign up. Pay the day of play


Play will be “doubles”, made up only of WFRA Members (active and retired). The dates of the opening rounds of the tournament will be October 25, 26, and 27, (7 p.m.), at the Ralph Wulz Riverside Tennis Center, 551 Nims. In the event of a conflict with assigned duty schedule, it will be the responsibility of the player to make proper arrangements. The format of the tournament will be either round-robin or pool play, depending on the number of teams. The championship rounds of the tournament are currently being planned for Chicken & Pickle, and those dates will be forthcoming. Cost to the participants to play in the tournament is $20 per team/$10 per player.



When you have your team decided, one person from the team needs to submit an email listing your team members and their duty shift assignments to Capt. Kelly Zane at [email protected] no later than Friday, September 15 at 1700 hours.

09/14/2023

Lenexa Fire Department
Lieutenant Michael Wells September 14, 2019, passed away after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer.

09/12/2023

09/12/2023

September is Firefighter Appreciation Month. This circa 1897 photo shows the Seneca Fire Department posing with their equipment in front of the firehouse. Firefighting in America can be traced back to the 17th century when firefighters had to rely on using the “bucket brigade” approach (passing buckets from one person to another). For decades firefighters were volunteers, and while there are still volunteers, firefighting didn’t become a profession until the mid-19th century. Uniforms, apparatus, and changes in firefighting strategies have evolved over the years for safety and quicker response times. However, firefighting still remains a dangerous job, yet a time-honored tradition.

09/11/2023

The Showers from this morning couldn't deter the 2023 Patriot Day ceremony at the KFFM! Thanks to Hamilton Middle School Madrigals & JROTC for posting colors! IAFF135 Honor Guard & the Wichita Fire Department.

09/08/2023

09/08/2023

The Annual Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial will be Sunday October 1st at 1:30pm.

09/07/2023

Chief Jean R. Charles
Altamont/Mt.Pleasant Fire Department .
September 7, 1985 Chief Jean R. Charles responded to a grass fire along highway 59, with the fire being in the west ditch Chief Charles parked the fire engine along the southbound lane. Thick smoke was drifting across the highway. The Altamont Police Chief drove north to stop traffic. A southbound milk truck failed to stop and drove through the smoke hitting a northbound car and then struck the parked fire truck causing it to rollover on top of Chief Charles. The impact killed the driver of the car and Chief Jean R. Charles.

09/07/2023

The Kansas Firefighters Museum like to say Congratulations Emporia Fire Department for the first 150 years and the next!

09/06/2023

09/06/2023

September 6, 1990 - LODD
Firefighter Todd David Colton, 25
Sedgewick County Fire Department. Wichita, Kansas
Firefighter Colton and several other firefighters were fighting a brush fire. At approximately 4:03pm, Colton was found collapsed on a car wheel and tire near a barbed wire fence. The fire was on the other side of the fence. It was determined that Firefighter Colton died of a heat stroke. The firefighters were wearing 40-50lbs of equipment and operating in 94 degree temperatures with high humidity.

09/04/2023

Chief Larry W. Suiter
Lorraine Fire Department - September 4, 2010
Chief Suiter responded to an anhydrous ammonia leak at a local grain elevator on the evening of September 3, 2010. He died at his home in the early hours of September 4, 2010, of an apparent heart attack.
Age: 66

08/28/2023

Forest Rabon
Kansas City Kansas Fire Department - August 28, 1938
Firefighter Rabon responded to a fire alarm at the Goldman Jewelry Store a 646 Minnesota ave. Twelve firefighters were treated for injuries and smoke inhalation. Firefighter Rabon died two days later from a heart attack at home.

08/28/2023

Cordell French
Towanda Fire Department - August 28, 2004
Firefighter French and the members of his fire department participated in a drill involving hose line usage, map training, and vehicle maintenance. The drill was completed at approximately 1600 hrs. Firefighter French returned home and suffered a heart attack at approximately 2000 hrs. Fellow firefighters responded and provided treatment for Firefighter French. Despite their efforts, Firefighter French was pronounced dead at 2130 hrs as the result of a heart attack.
Age: 44

08/23/2023

Reminder that our Mountain Oyster Feed and Silent Auction is approaching on Sept. 16. Like and follow our page so you don't miss out on any updates. We will be posting a series showcasing items available at the Silent Auction that evening. Funds go to equipment and new Facility. Make plans to attend because we always have a really good time.

08/23/2023

4 new items · Memory by David Wilson

08/16/2023

08/16/2023

2021
Joshua Schwindt
Josh Schwindt Rolla Volunteer Fire Department August 15, 2021 Firefighter Joshua Schwindt responded to a vehicle rollover accident. While searching for victims, he came in contact with downed power lines and was electrocuted. Emergency responders at the scene immediately performed CPR. Firefighter Schwindt was rushed to Morton County Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

08/13/2023

Anthony "Tony" Cox
Topeka Fire Department
August 13, 2007
Captain Cox and other firefighters were working on the scene of a 2-story apartment building fire.
Captain Cox collapsed after leaving the building to rehab. His death was caused by a Heart Attack.

08/11/2023

70 years ago (1953):
*work started today on tearing down the old Number 5 fire station at 2nd & Hillside to make way for building a new fire station at that location. Razing of the old building should be completed this week.

08/10/2023

Andy McDonald
Kansas City Kansas Fire Department - August 10, 1896
While responding to a call he did not see a pile of stones in the middle of the road because of the poor lighting. The horse drawn apparatus was driven into the pile and he was trampled by the horses.

08/10/2023

1936
Walter Laverick
Kansas City Kansas Fire Department-August 8, 1936
Captain Walter Laverick became trapped in a hollow, while fighting a brush fire and was overcome by smoke and flames.

08/09/2023

Happiest 79th Birthday to Smokey Bear! The Wichita Fire Department public education division used the Smokey Costume that we have on display 70s thru the 80s, did you know there is a do and don't how to wear the costume! We have this on display also.

08/07/2023

1985
Leland F. Jones
Edwardsville Fire Department - August 7, 1985

06/10/2023

Bruce Sternberger
Hardtner/Elwood Fire Department - June 10, 2005
Incident Description: Firefighter Sternberger and the members of his fire department fought a 260-acre fire in wheat fields. That night, a lightning strike occurred near his home, causing a power outage and starting a wildfire. Firefighter Sternberger called the fire department to report the fire and then went outside to begin fighting the fire. Firefighters believe that Firefighter Sternberger left his home and almost immediately came into contact with an energized power line. After not hearing from him for a while, Firefighter Sternberger's wife called the fire department for assistance. Firefighter Sternberger's body was discovered a short time later.
Age: 56

06/08/2023

06/08/2023

Kansas City Kansas Fire Department June 8 1992
After fighting a fire at 2818 N. Allis , Capt.Wayne E. Walker returned to
Station 5. While doing his report , he came into the kitchen and reported to his crew that he was suffering chest pains. He was transported to Bethany Hospital where he underwent heart surgery. He did not recover/

06/02/2023

June 2, 1965 - LODD
Firefighter Gary Lee Barrow, 24
Wichita Fire Department, Kansas
Lost life from an explosion and fire at the Red Bud Supermarket at Grove and 21st Street.

05/31/2023

We like to thank and for making the KFFM the monetary recipient of this limited edition custom WFD shirt.

05/31/2023

Lyndell Joe Smith
Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department - May 31, 2000
Firefighter Smith was a passenger in a 1984 Jeep CJ7 command vehicle. The truck was equipped with extrication equipment and was responding with lights and siren in operation to a vehicle rollover with reports of serious injuries. Firefighter Smith was riding the hump between the driver and the front seat passenger. None of the truck’s occupants were wearing seat belts. As the command vehicle overtook and passed a passenger car on the left side, the car turned into the command vehicle, striking it at the right rear tire. The command vehicle skidded across traffic, entered a ditch, overturned in a wheat field, and caught fire. All three occupants of the command vehicle were ejected. Firefighter Smith received fatal injuries, and the other occupants of the command vehicle received serious injuries. No autopsy was performed but the cause of death for Firefighter Smith was listed as closed head and chest trauma with exsanguination from mortal axillary wounds (blood loss). No extrication was required at the scene of the original rollover call.
Age: 46