Kansas Firefighters Museum

12/02/2023

Thanks to Jay & Amy, Terry & Liz for stopping by the KFFM.

11/30/2023

11/30/2023

Guy E. Post November 30, 1993
Bourbon County Fire District #3 Cause of Death Heart Attack Today, we take time to remember Firefighter Guy Post of the Bourbon County Fire District #3 who died in the line of duty.

On November 30th, 1993, The Bourbon County Fire District #3 responded to a grass fire on the property of one of the department's firefighters, Guy Post. While fighting the fire on his own property, Firefighter Post suddenly became ill and collapsed going into cardiac arrest due to overexertion,

11/29/2023

On November 29, 1988 six Kansas City Missouri Fighters started their shift and would never return home. Overnight prior to the end of their shift they would perish from a tragic explosion on a construction site.

Tomorrow on the 30th Anniversary at 10 a.m. we will return to that site to honor our brothers.

All KCFD members attending Thursday's 30/41 memorial service at 10:00 AM at the memorial site on 87th Street and Blue River Road just east of I-49 are requested to wear Class A uniforms with covered badges. If you have a fire department dress uniform, it can be worn for this service.

Those men were from KCFD Pumper 30 and KCFD Pumper 41.

From Pumper 30:

Gerald C. Halloran, 57, married with three children and six grandchildren. Halloran had served more than 37 years and was considering retirement at the end of 1988.

Luther Eugene Hurd, 31, married with three children. Ordinarily he worked at Station 23 on the East Side but volunteered to fill in at Station 30 that night. He was a 10-year veteran of the department.

Thomas Fry, 41, was divorced with one child, and had been a firefighter for more than 15 years.

From Pumper 41:

James H. Kilventon Jr., 54, married with two children. He had served more than 27 years on the force.

Michael R. Oldham, 32, married with two children, an 11-year veteran of the department. His father had been a firefighter.

Robert D. McKarnin, 42, who had spent almost 20 years with the Fire Department. He served all that time at Station 41. He was married with two children.

Our memorial site for the explosion, a memorial that has been funded and taken care of by our members. Please keep our membership and the friends and families of these brothers in your thoughts and prayers.

We will never forget, we love you Brothers, Rest In Peace.

11/27/2023

Wichita Firefighter Tom Sladek November 27, 1927 Lost his life at 9th and Poplar when he fell from a Engine responding to a fire.

11/26/2023

Firefighter Arthur L. Pearson
Ogden Fire Department November 25,1992
Firefighter Pearson suffered a heart attack after returning to the station from a emergency call.

11/24/2023

Captain Norman Almond Firefighter Craig Daniel Brown
Parsons Fire Department - November 24, 1998
A painting contractor found that their ladders were not long enough to reach the upper portion of the church. A representative of the church contacted city hall and requested an aerial ladder. After an assessment by the fire chief, a reserve pumper was sent to the scene to allow for the use of its ground ladders. Captain Almond and Driver/Operator Brown were assisting with the positioning of a ladder on the exterior of a church that was being painted. The aluminum ladder made contact with an electrical service line, resulting in the fatal electrocution of both firefighters and injury to one additional firefighter. The firefighters were positioning the ladder since it was too cumbersome for the two painters to position by themselves.

11/21/2023

Wichita Fire Department - November 21, 1968
On Thursday, Nov. 21, 1968 at 9:12 p.m., a passer-by reported a fire at the Yingling Chevrolet auto dealership. The first units arrived on scene at 9:14 p.m., and had transmitted a second alarm while pulling out of fire station 2 quartered two blocks away.
Heavy dark smoke was reported to be showing from the structure. Firefighters stretched lines into the building and encountered heavy smoke in the service bay area.
When the alarm was received, Fire Chief Thomas McGaughey and his wife were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary at a friend’s home along with Chief Inspector Merle Wells. Both immediately responded to the alarm.
A short time later, Chief McGaughey, Chief Wells and Firefighter Dale Mishler, the chief’s driver, made entry into the showroom floor to devise a plan for attacking fire.It was reported that no smoke or heat was present upon their entry, and the showroom lights were still on. But heavy fire was found in the cockloft space above, which was used for parts storage.

They were then joined by Firefighter Jimmy Austin, and probationary Firefighter Michael Corn. Corn had just graduated from the fire academy; this was his first call. He was requested to retrieve an attic ladder.

About 30 seconds after he exited the building a thunderous crash occurred; the entire roof over the showroom floor had collapsed with heavy fire now showing.

Approximately six minutes after arriving on-scene the bowstring truss roof collapsed claiming the lives of McGaughey, Wells, Mishler and Austin. About six other firefighters who were in or near the structure were briefly trapped but quickly rescued.

11/21/2023

Cloud County Rural Fire Department -November 21, 1984 Firefighter Ball died about 4 p.m. Tuesday as a result of inhaling carbon monoxide. David A. Ball, 45, had been working on a truck from the Cloud County Rural Fire Department No. 4 when he was overcome by the gas, a Cloud County Sheriff's office dispatcher
said. He was a member of the rural fire department.

11/21/2023

Kansas City Kansas November 21, 2007 Firefighter Michael J.Tluscik, after returning from a Carbon Monixide alarm, collapsed at the station and died from an apprent heart attack.

11/18/2023

11/18/1943 Today we remember Wichita Ks. Firefighter Keith Fulton and Lieutenant Clint Grovsner, the two firefighters, were electrocuted and killed when the ladder they were raising came in contact with power lines @ 351 N. Topeka, at the downtown fine arts building of the University of Wichita.

11/17/2023

Today we remember Captain Theodore Jones Kansas City Kansas Fire Department November 17, 1920 While responding to a call , the truck overturned at Quindaro Blvd and Eleventh st. All the firefighters on the rig were injured in the wreck. Captain Jones subcommed to his injuries.

11/17/2023

Today we Remember Captain Gary Boyert, on November 17, 2003 while responding to a call, he lost control of his vehicle and overturned into a ditch. The other crews responding with him could not get him out before he was killed from asphyxiation.

11/17/2023

Today On November 17, 1919 Firefighters Stephen H. Tourtillot and Nicholas Arnold of the Hays Fire Department were killed when three Standard Oil gas lines exploded. The explosion also killed 6 bystanders and injured 150 others.

11/16/2023

END OF WATCH 💔 Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter confirms K-9 Bane was strangled to death by a robbery and domestic violence suspect in a storm drain this afternoon.

Bane used to be with the Wichita Police Department. His former handler, Officer Daniel Gumm, died of cancer last year.

11/15/2023

Administration Battalion Chief Donald Kersting, November 15, 2004.
Passed away from a heart attack while on duty in his office at Wichita Fire Department Headquarters. Life support was initiated, and Chief Kersting was transported to St Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

11/12/2023

Fire Chief Stan Engdahl McPherson Fire County District #2 November 12 2007 Responded to a fire call at possible house fire, as the fire was classified under control, Chief Engdahl came out the structure and collapsed from a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead.

11/11/2023

Thanks to all the Veterans & WFD for allowing us to join in!

11/11/2023

From the KFFM

11/10/2023

Lieutenant Malachi Brown of Baxter Springs Ks Fire Department
Responded to his last alarm on October 15, 2021, a structure fire in his hometown of Baxter Springs. During that call, Lieutenant Malachi Brown sustained life-threatening injuries, severe third-degree burns covering 27% of his body. Lieutentant Brown fought hard to overcome those injuries and complications for nearly a month. On November 10, 2021, Lieutenant Brown passed with his wife by his side.

11/08/2023

Wilbert L. Dyer Jefferson County #1 Valley Falls Fire Department. November 8, 1992
Firefighter Dyer suffered a Heart Attack while getting on the fire truck at the station to respond to a residential garage Fire.
Age 57.

11/08/2023

Johnny D. Ivison Jr. Easton Township FD
Firefighter Ivison passed away on November 8, 2020 from injuries he sustained in an automobile accident when responding to a house fire in Easton, Kansas

11/04/2023

November 4, 1987 Kevin E. Prichard of Douglass KS, Firefighter for Butler-Douglass County Fire District #8 passed away from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a fire truck.

11/02/2023

Winfield Firefighter Gerald Lee Esely 11/2/1950
Died from the results from an explosion and second-degree burns from a fire 3 days prior at 116 west Seventh St.

10/31/2023

10/31/2023

Make sure exits are clear of decorations so nothing blocks your escape routes.

10/29/2023

Today is National First Responders Day.

White House Press Release – On National First Responders Day, we honor the bravery of our Nation’s heroes who put their lives on the line for their fellow Americans each and every day — from law enforcement officers who keep our streets safe and firefighters who rush into burning buildings, to relief workers who care for our families after natural disasters and EMTs, paramedics, and other public health workers who provide life-saving emergency care at a moment’s notice. When tragedies strike, these women and men are always there to help us, and we thank them for their extraordinary service to our country

10/28/2023

10/25/2023

Arthur L. Pearson
Ogden fire Department October 25,1992 While responding to Motor Vehicle accident, Arthur Pearson suffered a massive heart attack and succumbed to injuries.

10/25/2023

Thomas E. Tomlin
Hutchinson Fire Department
October 25, 1922
Firefighter Thomas Tomlin received a fractured skull when he was thrown from a fire truck on October 24 leaving Station 1 and succumbed to his injuries the next day.

10/19/2023

Thank you to the North central Senior Adults for coming to the KFFM for a tour on Wednesday October 18, your never to old to love Fire Trucks!!

10/18/2023

10/09/2023

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