U.S. Fire Administration

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official line of duty death of Firefighter Walter Hessling, 54, of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department on November 27, 2009.

On November 21, 2009, Firefighter Hessling responded to motor vehicle accident call at 1033 hours and subsequently, after clearing the scene, suffered a stroke at 1554 hours. Firefighter Hessling passed away several days later due to complications from that medical emergency.

Funeral Arrangements:
A Wake will be held November 30, 2009 from 1930-2100hrs; December 1, 2009 from 1400-1700hrs and 1900-2100hrs at the Al Jacobsen Funeral Home, 1380 New York AVE, Huntington Station, NY 11746. Firematic services will be held at 2000hrs on December 1, 2009 at the Al Jacobsen Funeral Home. A private funeral ceremony for the family will be held Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:
The family is requesting in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Brady Intemann Foundation, 4 Pine Hollow Lane, Greenlawn, NY 11740.

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Walter Hessling at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 83 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2009; 80 from incidents that occurred in 2009 and three from previous year incidents. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats....