This Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at noon, the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department will be remembering its members who have died in the Line Of Duty serving our great city. The Memorial Service began after the loss of four Toledo Firefighters during a gasoline tanker truck fire on the Anthony Wayne Trail on June 10, 1961.
A portion of the service will also remember Toledo Fire retirees that have died in the previous year. This year’s Guest Speaker will be Dr. Nagi Naganathan, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Toledo.
This year’s ceremony is even more significant with the addition of the names of three firefighters whose deaths are now listed as Line Of Duty deaths.
Assistant Chief Peter McDonough died while on duty at fire station 3 on December 19, 1907. He was appointed to the department on February 1, 1885.
District Chief John Tiernan died while on duty at fire station 6 on August 8, 1917. He was appointed to the department on May 1, 1889.
Fireman Louis Palenske died while on duty at fire station 21 on May 8, 1957. He was appointed to the department on February 2, 1920.
Presenting wreaths this year will be Las Vegas Firefighter Steve Palenske, grandson of Louis Palenske, and Donna Arp, daughter of Fireman Kenneth Williams. Kenneth died in the Line Of Duty on September 20, 1958.
With the addition of Assistant Chief McDonough, District Chief Tiernan and Fireman Palenske, the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has lost 52 firefighters in the Line Of Duty since 1872.