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Virginia Community Braces For Fire Service Funerals
AMANDA CODISPOTI
The Roanoke Times
Reprinted with Permission
In the midst of grieving for two firefighters who were killed this week in a wreck, Rocky Mount officials are preparing for more than 1,000 mourners to descend on the Franklin County town for funerals on Friday.
The color and honor guards are assembling, road closures are being planned, and Rocky Mount police officers are warning residents and businesses that traffic will be heavy and driveways may be blocked.
"Over time, there's been a lot of large funerals, but we've not had anything in this regard," said Lee Flora, president of Flora Funeral Service in Rocky Mount. "It affects folks all the way around."
Public safety leaders, town officials, funeral home directors and others met several times Wednesday to work out details of today's visitation and Friday's funerals for Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon, 59, and firefighter William "Danny" Altice, 67. Previous stories in The Roanoke Times have reported Altice's age as 57.
The men were killed on their way to a house fire Monday when the volunteer fire department's 1989 Pierce fire engine, driven by Dillon, collided with an SUV at a busy intersection, flipped three times and landed on a car. The SUV had a green light when it entered the intersection, police said. No one has been charged.
Officials are expecting crowds to pay respects from Southwest Virginia and beyond.
"When a firefighter is lost, firefighters from all over the country will come out," said Victor Stagnaro, director of Fire Services Programs for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. "It's like losing a brother. We come out in force."
Services also will be held Friday for two Bridgeport, Conn., firefighters who were killed Saturday in a house fire. That might affect the turnout in Rocky Mount, Stagnaro said.
Franklin County Fire Marshal Bennie Russell said numerous out of town fire departments, including Charleston, S.C., said they would send representatives.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, working with the town of Rocky Mount, has planned road closures to accommodate funeral traffic on Virginia 40 and U.S. 220 as well as Virginia 718 in Glade Hill.
VDOT will post message boards in the area containing information on road closures, said spokeswoman Heidi Underwood. She expects heavy congestion on Virginia 40 and U.S. 220.
Rocky Mount Police Chief David Cundiff urged those in the area for the visitation and funerals to have "a whole lot of patience."
Cundiff said he sent officers, armed with a letter of forewarning, to neighborhoods and businesses that will be affected by the traffic.
Firefighters from Glade Hill and other Franklin County fire stations will help park cars on Friday and have been handling Rocky Mount's emergency assignments so the town's firefighters can help with arrangements, said Glade Hill Assistant Fire Chief Allen Richards.
Franklin Heights Baptist Church, where Dillon's funeral will be held, also is getting ready.
"We're preparing for a large crowd," said the Rev. Stan Parris, the church pastor. "They were well-loved in the community."
Dillon, who also was the town's vice mayor, did not attend Franklin Heights. His family chose to have the service there because it is the largest church in Franklin County, with room for 1,300 people, Parris said.
"We're expecting it to be filled to capacity here," Parris said. "It's had a really big impact on the community. Everywhere you go, it's the first topic of conversation."
Altice's funeral at Rocky Mount United Methodist Church will be smaller. The church can hold about 300 people, the Rev. John Plummer said.
"That's certainly a concern because we have no idea who will be coming from different fire departments from around the country" and because the men were beloved in Rocky Mount and Franklin County, Plummer said.
"They are just going to have to stand outside," Plummer said. The church may be able to hook up speakers so that those who can't squeeze in can still hear the service, he said.
While Rocky Mount and Franklin County firefighters attend Friday's services, firefighters from Roanoke County, Roanoke and Henry County will send fire trucks and staff to Franklin County's stations.
"Firefighting is a brotherhood," Roanoke Deputy Chief Ralph Tartaglia said. "That's how it is. When things happen, we just jump up and do it."
Staff writer Janelle Rucker contributed to this report.
Related
The Roanoke Times
Reprinted with Permission
In the midst of grieving for two firefighters who were killed this week in a wreck, Rocky Mount officials are preparing for more than 1,000 mourners to descend on the Franklin County town for funerals on Friday.
The color and honor guards are assembling, road closures are being planned, and Rocky Mount police officers are warning residents and businesses that traffic will be heavy and driveways may be blocked.
"Over time, there's been a lot of large funerals, but we've not had anything in this regard," said Lee Flora, president of Flora Funeral Service in Rocky Mount. "It affects folks all the way around."
Public safety leaders, town officials, funeral home directors and others met several times Wednesday to work out details of today's visitation and Friday's funerals for Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon, 59, and firefighter William "Danny" Altice, 67. Previous stories in The Roanoke Times have reported Altice's age as 57.
The men were killed on their way to a house fire Monday when the volunteer fire department's 1989 Pierce fire engine, driven by Dillon, collided with an SUV at a busy intersection, flipped three times and landed on a car. The SUV had a green light when it entered the intersection, police said. No one has been charged.
Officials are expecting crowds to pay respects from Southwest Virginia and beyond.
"When a firefighter is lost, firefighters from all over the country will come out," said Victor Stagnaro, director of Fire Services Programs for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. "It's like losing a brother. We come out in force."
Services also will be held Friday for two Bridgeport, Conn., firefighters who were killed Saturday in a house fire. That might affect the turnout in Rocky Mount, Stagnaro said.
Franklin County Fire Marshal Bennie Russell said numerous out of town fire departments, including Charleston, S.C., said they would send representatives.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, working with the town of Rocky Mount, has planned road closures to accommodate funeral traffic on Virginia 40 and U.S. 220 as well as Virginia 718 in Glade Hill.
VDOT will post message boards in the area containing information on road closures, said spokeswoman Heidi Underwood. She expects heavy congestion on Virginia 40 and U.S. 220.
Rocky Mount Police Chief David Cundiff urged those in the area for the visitation and funerals to have "a whole lot of patience."
Cundiff said he sent officers, armed with a letter of forewarning, to neighborhoods and businesses that will be affected by the traffic.
Firefighters from Glade Hill and other Franklin County fire stations will help park cars on Friday and have been handling Rocky Mount's emergency assignments so the town's firefighters can help with arrangements, said Glade Hill Assistant Fire Chief Allen Richards.
Franklin Heights Baptist Church, where Dillon's funeral will be held, also is getting ready.
"We're preparing for a large crowd," said the Rev. Stan Parris, the church pastor. "They were well-loved in the community."
Dillon, who also was the town's vice mayor, did not attend Franklin Heights. His family chose to have the service there because it is the largest church in Franklin County, with room for 1,300 people, Parris said.
"We're expecting it to be filled to capacity here," Parris said. "It's had a really big impact on the community. Everywhere you go, it's the first topic of conversation."
Altice's funeral at Rocky Mount United Methodist Church will be smaller. The church can hold about 300 people, the Rev. John Plummer said.
"That's certainly a concern because we have no idea who will be coming from different fire departments from around the country" and because the men were beloved in Rocky Mount and Franklin County, Plummer said.
"They are just going to have to stand outside," Plummer said. The church may be able to hook up speakers so that those who can't squeeze in can still hear the service, he said.
While Rocky Mount and Franklin County firefighters attend Friday's services, firefighters from Roanoke County, Roanoke and Henry County will send fire trucks and staff to Franklin County's stations.
"Firefighting is a brotherhood," Roanoke Deputy Chief Ralph Tartaglia said. "That's how it is. When things happen, we just jump up and do it."
Staff writer Janelle Rucker contributed to this report.
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