LODD: Asst.Lt.Robert Henderson,38--Burns during S/R

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Henderson, Robert 

Age: 38 

Cause of Death: Other 

Rank: Assistant Lieutenant 

Nature of Death: Burns 

Classification: Volunteer 

Emergency Duty: Yes   

Incident Date: 04/18/2005 

Duty Type: On-Scene Fire 

Incident Time: 15:11 

Activity Type: Search and Rescue 

Death Date: 04/18/2005 

Fixed Prop. Use: Residential 

Fire Dept. Info: Evanston Fire Department

1136 Front St.

PO Box 640

Evanston , Wyoming  82930

Chief: Don Bodine   

Initial Summary:    Assistant Lieutenant Henderson and Firefighter Cook were performing search and rescue operations inside of a working residential fire when from a cause still to be determined the townhouse exploded, killing Henderson and Cook and injuring several other firefighters.   

Memorial Fund Info: C/o Evanston Fire Department, 1136 Front St., PO Box 640, Evanston, WY 82930 

source: US Fire Administration

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What a tragic series of events leading to the final sacrifice of so many of our brethren..... Thoughts are with all the Depts. affected, all the families and friends.

Evanston rocked by firefighter deaths; probe continues

By MEAD GRUVER

Associated Press Writer

EVANSTON, Wyo. (AP) -- A day after two volunteer firefighters lost their lives in a fiery explosion, investigators resumed the search for clues into the cause of the town home blaze and ensuing blast.

The victims of Monday's fire were Jacob Cook, 23, who had been married only a few weeks, and Robert Henderson, 39, a married father of four. Both were Evanston residents.

The two died from injuries suffered in an explosion after they went into a burning town house to attempt a rescue of children reportedly trapped inside. As it turned out, all occupants had safely vacated the complex.

"It's a situation where we've lost members of our family," Eric Quinney, chief administrative officer for the Evanston Fire Department, said Tuesday. "At this point, the shock is still in play and we're trying to come to grips."

A third firefighter, Abe Wheeler, 39, remained in stable condition at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City with burns. He was expected to make a full recovery.

Two other firefighters were treated and released from Evanston Regional Hospital.

The fire swept through a complex of five town houses on the city's west side before being extinguished several hours later.

Around town, flags flew at half-staff. Friends and relatives of the fallen firefighters created a makeshift memorial with flowers, flags and notes placed on the men's pickup trucks, which were parked across from the fire hall.

"We love you Jake and you know it," read one note written in multicolored markers.

Atop the cabs were the firemen's helmets, while their firefighting coats hung from the driver's side mirrors.

"These two memorials out here are reminders that two of our own didn't come home last night," Quinney said.

The Evanston Fire Department consists of four full-time firefighters and about 50 volunteers. Approximately 30 members battled the blaze, with help from about six or seven volunteer firefighters from nearby Bear River.

The fire was reported at 3:11 p.m. Monday at 99 Colonial Avenue. It apparently started in an end unit. Three of the modern, multilevel units were heavily damaged.

Few people were seen at the site Tuesday afternoon, and the driveway to the complex was blocked off as investigators prepared to sift through the rubble.

A joint investigation involving the Evanston Fire Department and state fire marshal's office was under way.

"They're at the scene right now as we speak, doing some of that work, trying to come up with that cause of not only the origin but of the explosion," Quinney said, "trying to help us understand what happened."

"We're not ruling anything out," he said. "We're covering all the angles, from accidental to anything that might have foul play. ... There's a lot of possibilities, whether it's electrical, accidental, whether it was some sort of human involvement."

A joint memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Evanston High School.

The community is reeling and will be for quite some time, Quinney said.

"It's devastating because not only have we lost members of our firefighting family, we've lost volunteers," he said. "These guys are not paid for what they do. They do it for love of service, love of the community.

"It's a devastating blow to the community as well as the firefighting family."