Local Firefighters wounded and killed in the line of duty.

By Timothy Hale
For many first response teams, death is a risk they accept in order to protect and serve the people of our city. But rarely do fire teams come to face this grim reality of their job the way the men of ladder company No.7 did Saturday night.

While responding to the Walton Foundry fire Saturday night, the Truck 21 crew came under gunfire from a sniper located inside the factory. Four firemen were killed as the gunman fired on the crews of Company No.7. Police were already arriving as the firemen began taking fire, and responded in kind. Sadly, the suspect was killed in the attempt to subdue him, so we may never know the purpose for this senseless attack. But the Officer in Charge of the scene, Det. Marcus Hargrave, has assured the Morning Times that the LPD will not rest until the families of these brave servants of the city can rest at ease.

Currently the names of all victims and the suspect are being withheld out of respect for the families of the deceased. However, there is a fund being set up for the families of the deceased. Interested parties may send a letter of inquiry to FiremanFund c/o The Lamar Morning Times(address here) or (email address here)

(disclaimer: the previous 'news item' is setting for a game. Do not try to mail anything or email anything to those addresses)