New Brunswick, NJ LODD

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Hey...

A Deputy Chief was killed early this morning while operating at what became a 2 alarm fire in the City of New Brunswick, N.J. NBFD Deputy Chief Jim DeHurn died while inside the dwelling at 50 Lee Avenue around 0300. Reports are that the chief, w/ 20 years on the job, apparently went into the burning building to do an initial search when the fire rapidly spread. While he was inside, reports are that a propane tank inside the house may have caused the fire to flash. Tragically, Chief DeHurn was severely burned, was rescued by firefighters but was pronounced dead. No other firefighters were seriously injured and the residents of the home all got out. Additional details later.

As always-our deepest sympathy and sadness go out to the family of Deputy Chief Jim DeHurn as well as to the members of the New Brunswick FD.

Take Care-BE CAREFUL,

BillyG

The Secret List 9-3-04

FirefighterCloseCalls.com

[DMA327 12]

Deepest sympathy and prayers for family and friends of Deputy Chief Jim Dehurn. RIP :sad:

[Guest]

My thoughts & prayers will be with his family. I guess he was only 2 weeks away from retirement.

[BFD1054 1,552]

Thats terrible news! My girlfriend goes to college in New Brunswick, they're a busy department and a great bunch of guys! 20 years on the job and so close to retirement, what a shame. My thoughts and prayers also go out to his family, friends and the members of the City of New Brunswick FD.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Heartbreaking details. God Bless you Chief and your family.

Comes to show, that even when you do it right, you can never account for the unknowns. News reports say witnesses saw a explosion, which in our terms probably means some sort of immediate increase in fire volume, and further they stated they are attempting to rule out the possibility of a propane tank. Keep it safe out there gang.

[DOC22 1]

What a shame! Just goes to emphasize the hazards of the job. Thoughts and prayers to Chief DeHurn's family as well as the Officers and Members of NBFD

[Guest WolfEMT]

Firefighter Killed Battling Blaze In New Brunswick, NJ

By Anthony Johnson

(New Brunswick-WABC, September 3, 2004) — A firefighter was killed battling a second-alarm fire in New Brunswick, N.J. Friday morning.

It is a day of mourning for New Brunswick's bravest following the death of a veteran firefighter.

Deputy Chief Jim De Hern was killed fighting flames in a multi-family home on Lee Avenue early this morning.

Deputy Fire Chief Jim DeHern arrived in a vehicle around 3:00 a.m. He jumped out the vehicle, ran into the house where the fire was taking place and told those people inside it was time to get out just before he lost his life.

Chrystalina Hernandez, Fire Victim: "I feel sorry for the fireman who died. I tried to help him and he came in and helped us. He saved our lives."

Chrystalina Hernandez moved into the multi-family home on Wednesday. And in the middle of the night, smoke filled her room and she heard a voice telling her to get out quickly. It was the voice of firemen Jim DeHern who ran into the building to warn the residents. He also may have saved over a dozen people before he died.

Deputy Chief Robert Rawls: "You never expect it to be one of us, but before we leave home in the morning we kiss the wife and the kids then do what we have to do."

It appears that a propane tank stored in the house exploded and DeHern was severely burned and died on the scene. All of the occupants were rescued. Many of the immigrants living at the house are now being assisted by the Red Cross.

Over at the firehouse, the purple and black bunting have now gone up and the American flag is now at half-staff in remembrance of a 23-year veteran who died saving others.

Lawrence Petrillo, NJ State Fire Marshal: "The guy was a hero. He was a firefighter that most firefighters would look up to. I am just glad I knew him."

The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

[BFD1054 1,552]

Funeral for hero fire chief to include procession

Published in the Home News Tribune 9/07/04

By MICHELLE MASKALY

STAFF WRITER

NEW BRUNSWICK: Numerous city streets will be shut down today and tomorrow as family, friends and fellow firefighters say goodbye to Deputy Chief James D'heron -- a man who devoted his life to saving others.

The 51-year-old veteran firefighter died in the line of duty early Friday morning after he ran into a burning Lee Avenue home and rescued 15 people.

An investigation into what exactly caused D'heron's death has not been completed, authorities have said.

Any new information about the case would not be available until today, authorities said.

About 2,000 firefighters are expected to converge on the city for two days of services.

A procession including D'heron's family, New Brunswick fire personnel with full color guard, the chief's vehicle, Ladder 1 and Engine 1 carrying D'heron, will start at Boylan Funeral Home on Easton Avenue at 1 p.m. today.

It will proceed down Easton Avenue and make a left onto Somerset Street ending at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, where D'heron will lie in state.

Officials advise this will result in temporary road closures today, affecting a portion of Easton Avenue, Hamilton Street from Easton to George streets, George Street from Hamilton to Somerset streets, and then on Somerset Street up to the church.

A wake at the church will take place between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today, with a traditional fire department rite at 8 p.m.

There will be road closures all day today on Somerset Street from Easton to George streets and on College Avenue from Hamilton to Somerset streets.

Tomorrow, a procession of uniformed New Brunswick fire personnel, the chief's vehicle, Ladder 1, Engine 1, a 1947 Mack fire engine, and a full pipe and drum corps will start at 9:15 a.m. at the corner of Easton Avenue and Hamilton Street, continue down Hamilton Street to George Street, then make a right onto Somerset Street on their way to St. Peter's.

A funeral at St. Peter's will begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Shuttle buses, provided by Rutgers University, will take those attending the funeral from Buccleuch Park, where they are being asked to park their vehicles, to the church from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

A procession of family, close friends, New Brunswick fire personnel and the pipe and drum corps will follow the funeral.

The shuttle buses will take the remaining people back to Buccleuch Park, where a reception will immediately follow the funeral service.

The procession will follow D'heron, whose remains will be carried in Engine 1 from the church up Somerset Street, then down Louis Street to Suydam Street.

It will make a right on Joyce Kilmer Avenue.

As it travels past fire headquarters, it will pass under an American flag hung between two ladder trucks.

Four sets of five-bell rings will be heard as part of a firefighter tradition called recall.

The procession will make a left on Edgeworth Place and go past D'heron's house.

It then will go down to Livingston Avenue, make a right and head up to How Lane, where it will follow the road to Route 27 and take that down to St. Peter's Cemetery.

There will be road closures all day tomorrow on Somerset Street from Easton to George streets and on College Avenue from Hamilton to Somerset streets. Temporary road closures will be in effect along the procession route.

Firefighters who gathered at the Joyce Kilmer Avenue firehouse yesterday said the condolences they've been receiving from fire departments around the world has been comforting.

D'heron leaves behind a wife, Kathleen; a 32-year-old daughter, Erin Varga, and a son-in-law, John Varga, all of New Brunswick; and two sons, Mickey, 23, who serves in the Army's military police and James, 22, of Providence, R.I.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.