Dedication — Smithfield VFD Truck Company Ops Class

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 5th Annual Truck Company Operations Class to the memory of these two firefighters, John Hudgins and Frank Young, who gave their life in the line of duty.

Twenty years ago on March 18, 1996 the Chesapeake Virginia Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire in an auto parts store. This building was built with a light weight wood truss assembly and a large open showroom. Upon arrival, conditions were clear inside the store, with reports of a fire at the electrical meter. Engine 3 was the first due engine that went to investigate. Upon further investigation, they found an active fire and an attack line was stretched to the interior of the structure. Unknown to the crew, the space above the showroom containing the wood trusses was heavily involved in the fire. Twenty-one minutes after dispatch and an estimated 10-12 minutes after fire impingement on the truss assembly, the entire assembly collapsed, trapping and killing the two firefighters inside. This fire was caused by a power company truck articulating boom making contact with a power line leading to the meter box causing an electrical short.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 6th Annual Truck Company Operations class, to the memory of Kyle Robert Wilson, who gave his life in the line of duty on April 16, 2007.

Technician Wilson was assigned to Tower 512, a ladder company. Tower 512 was dispatched to a reported house fire at 0603hrs. The Prince William County area was under a high wind advisory as a nor'easter storm moved through the area. Sustained winds of 25 miles-per-hour with gusts up to 48 miles-per-hour were prevalent in the area at the time of the fire dispatch. Initial arriving units reported heavy fire on the exterior of two sides of the single family house and crews suspected that the occupants were still inside the house sleeping because of the early morning hour. A search of the upstairs bedroom was conducted by Technician Wilson and his officer. A rapid and catastrophic change of fire and smoke conditions occurred in the interior of the house within minutes of Tower 512's crew entering the structure. Technician Wilson became trapped and was unable to locate an immediate exit out of the hostile environment. Mayday radio transmissions were made by crews and by Technician Wilson of the life-threatening situation. Valiant and repeated rescue attempts to locate and remove Technician Wilson were made by the fire fighting crews during extreme fire, heat, and smoke conditions. Firefighters were forced from the structure as the house began to collapse on them and intense fire, heat, and smoke conditions developed. Technician Wilson succumbed to the fire and the cause of death was reported by the medical examiner to be thermal and inhalation injuries.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department Truck Company Operations Class dedicated the 7th Annual Truck Company Operations Class to the memory of Houston Fire Department firefighters who gave their life in the line of duty.

On May 31, 2013, firefighters were called to a massive five alarm blaze at the Southwest Inn along the Southwest Freeway in Houston, TX. Believing there were people trapped, Capt. Bill Dowling led a rescue attempt. The roof collapsed during this rescue killing fire-fighters Robert Bebee, Matthew Renaud, Anne Sullivan and Robert Garner and injuring 13 others. Dowling was seriously injured in the collapse and as a result his legs were amputated and he was left unable to communicate after suffering serious brain damage. Capt. Dowling continued to fight and survived many months in the hospi-tal with many ups and downs. As a result of his condition, this in-spired Firefighters to create the group "Firefighters Helping Fire-fighters" within the Houston Fire Dept. This group raises money for department members going through personnel trails, medical and major financial hardships. Capt.Dowling passed away from injuries on March 7, 2017 after a courageous and heroic fight for his life. A small memorial of four red crosses bearing the station numbers of the fallen firefighters stands in place of the inn. The Southwest Inn fire is considered the deadliest day in the history of the Houston Fire Department.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 9th Annual Truck Company Operations Class, to the memory of both Lt. Ashley Berry , Richmond Fire Department and Fire Fighter Daniel Lewis of Richmond Fire Department.

Daniel Lewis, 30, was a native from Newport News, VA. He was assigned to Fire Station 15. He was a graduate of Richmond Community HS class of 2007 and furthered his education at Virginia Wesleyan College in VA Beach. Daniel found his niche in fire services after being introduced to it by one of his professors in 2010. Since that time, he served several fire departments including working for three years with Roanoke Fire-EMS in 2013, and also worked as a part-time medic at the Busch Gardens and Water County USA amusement parks. At the time of death he had found his calling with the Richmond Fire Department and was with them for a year. Daniel leaves behind his parents, Keith and Lynn as well as a large family. We never know when a life is taken suddenly, but when it does, it is tragic and a leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

As a resident of Chesterfield County, Lt. Ashley Berry, 33, joined the Fire Department in 2011. The veteran firefighter had been assigned to Fire Station 21 on Jefferson Davis Highway for the last eight years and recently promoted lieutenant after being assigned to the city fire marshal’s office. On Thanksgiving night 2019, Lt. Ashley Berry was celebrating Thanksgiving at the home of her boyfriend’s family in Hopewell and was preparing to leave when she was struck by gunfire from a gunman outside who was firing at an adjacent residence. Berry was shielding her 5-year-old and was struck in the process. She was taken to a nearby hospital and transferred to VCU Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. Berry leaves behind three children.

Since the time of her death, the police arrested a man in connection with the shooting. He was only a person of interest and was arrested on probation violations but was not directly charged. Richmond Fire Chief Melvin D. Carter said that Lt. Berry was a valued and valuable member of the department. He also stated that she was a true public safety hero as a firefighter, she had crawled into burning buildings to save trapped people. In Ashley’s honor they were retiring her badge.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department would like to dedicated the 10th Annual Truck Company Operations Class, to the families of both the instructors and students of this class and years past.

The instructors and staff are pleased to dedicate this years class to the families of both the instructors and students of this years class and years past. Without their support and love this class would probably not happen. Three days of instruction for students and MANY days of preparation and teaching by instructors is a lot to ask the families to support. The fire service family extends beyond the fire ground, firehouse and training ground. We all are lucky to have such support and love from our “Real Family”. So take a moment to say thank you and even I love you to your family as they are apart of our family.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 5th Annual Truck Company Operations Class to the memory of these two firefighters, John Hudgins and Frank Young, who gave their life in the line of duty.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 6th Annual Truck Company Operations class, to the memory of Kyle Robert Wilson, who gave his life in the line of duty on April 16, 2007.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department Truck Company Operations Class dedicated the 7th Annual Truck Company Operations Class to the memory of Houston Fire Department firefighters who gave their life in the line of duty.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 8th Annual Truck Company Operations Class, to the memory of both Lt. Brad Clark, Hanover Fire and EMS Engine Co.6 and Fire Fighter Kevin O'Connell of Henrico Fire Station 22 .

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the 9th Annual Truck Company Operations Class, to the memory of both Lt. Ashley Berry , Richmond Fire Department and Fire Fighter Daniel Lewis of Richmond Fire Department.

Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department would like to dedicated the 10th Annual Truck Company Operations Class, to the families of both the instructors and students of this class and years past.

“ Smoke Cured Since 1939”