EMMITSBURG, Md. (FOX 44) – Some Central Texas firefighters will be among 13 from across the state to be honored during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is hosting the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland this Friday and Saturday. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023, and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. 

The honorees will include the following Texas firefighters:

Firefighter Peter Avila, age 59, of the Brownsville Fire Department, died on December 7, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter Evan Brown, age 18, of the Honey Grove Volunteer Fire Department and another firefighter were responding to a motor vehicle crash when they hit a cow on the road. The vehicle rolled, ejecting Firefighter Brown, and causing severe injuries. He remained in the Intensive Care Unit at the Medical City Hospital in Plano, Texas until his death on July 30, 2023.

Engineer Gregory Cocke, age 41, of the Fort Worth Fire Department, died due to a brain aneurysm on March 14, 2009 subsequent to a training exercise on March 11, 2009.

Battalion Chief Robert Cocke, age 54, of the Fort Worth Fire Department, was conducting a training exercise at a high rise in downtown Fort Worth, Texas on November 17, 1993. During this exercise, Battalion Chief Cocke had a heart attack due to a tremendous amount of stress and exertion. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was admitted for treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on December 5, 1993. On December 6, 1993, he suffered a second, fatal heart attack and died. 

Lieutenant Richard Hempelm age 53, of the Groesbeck Fire-Rescue, responded to an emergency medical call at a residence. The next morning, he began to feel ill and was unresponsive. He was transported to the hospital where he died due to a heart attack on May 9, 2023.

Firefighter Edward Hykel, age 60, of the West Volunteer Fire Department, responded with the West Volunteer Fire Department and the Department of Public Safety to the scene of a vehicle fire on an interstate on March 28, 2023. The inside lane was shut down with traffic control devices; however, a tractor trailer failed to yield or follow the marked traffic paths and struck Edward Hykel, fire apparatus, DPS units, and the vehicle that was on fire. He was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Firefighter John Norris, age 55, of the Forest Bend Fire Department, responded to a structure fire at an abandoned house on November 25, 2023. Shortly after returning home, he suffered a heart attack. An ambulance was called, and he was transported to the hospital where he died due to a heart attack.

Fire Chief Nahit Oral, age 49, of the Communit Volunter Fire Department, died on March 9, 2023 from cardiac arrest within 24 hours of completing and passing a physical ability test for the fire department's tactical medical team. 

Firefighter/EMT Joe Parish, age 67, of the Diboll Volunter Fire Department, was responding to a call for mutual aid from Fuller Springs, Texas, when his vehicle left the roadway and crashed. He was transported to the hospital and underwent surgery. He died on September 1, 2023 due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Firefighter Brandon Peterson, age 31, of the Lancaster Fire Department, died on December 29, 2020, due to complications of lung cancer, deemed by the State of Texas to be a line of duty death.

Engineer Keven Teague, age 46 of the Fort Worth Fire Department, died on May 24, 2019 due to complications of pancreatic cancer.

Captain Malcolm Willis, age 34, of the Houston Fire Department, died due to cardiac hypertrophy (sudden cardiac death) on July 13, 2022. He died within ten hours of completing an overtime shift, during which he responded to multiple calls. 

Firefighter Horace Wright, age 71, of the Abbott Volunteer Fire Department, responded to a call for a motor vehicle accident on April 14, 2023. Upon arriving at the scene, it was determined to be a stranded vehicle partially blocking the roadway. The fire department remained on scene for traffic control. As firefighters were repositioning the apparatus, Horace Wright, fell and was struck by the fire apparatus. He was immediately treated on scene and airlifted to the hospital where he died due to his injuries.

Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2024 Roll of Honor.  

There are two events open to the public at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) during Memorial Weekend.

  • The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
  • The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is on May 5 at 10 a.m. ET and will be hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.

Fire service and government leaders are scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 5. The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel and Facebook page.

There are additional events during Memorial Weekend provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters. These include small group sessions and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday; they are open to the families and coworkers of newly honored and previously honored firefighters.

Schedule

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Candlelight Service 

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET 

Streaming begins at 7:00 pm ET

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Memorial Service

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Streaming begins at 9:30 am ET

The NFFF will provide live satellite feeds of both events. Satellite coordinates can be found at live.firehero.org.

This events will take place at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park, located at 16835 S. Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

How Communities Can Participate

Those not attending Memorial Weekend in person can also pay tribute to this year’s honored firefighters. All can participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (May 1 – 5) by lighting their homes, businesses, landmarks or fire departments with red lights. Other ways to remember include Bells Across America, Sound the Sirens, and by signing a virtual Remembrance Banner.

In addition, the American flag will be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings on Sunday, May 5. The public is also encouraged to lower their American flags that day to recognize the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.