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Two Texas Firefighters Killed in Fall from Aerial Platform at High Rise Training Exercise
The accident just after 2 p.m. claimed the lives of Kyle Perkins, 45, and Cory Galloway, 28. Perkins had been with the department since July 2004, Galloway since January 2008. Two other firefighters suffered minor injures during the training exercise and were treated and released.
Kilgore Fire Department's ladder truck remains parked in front of Stark Hall at Kilgore College Sunday, January 25, 2009, after a training accident that left two firefighters dead. Justin Baker/Courtesy News-Journal Photo
"They were down at the college doing a training exercise with a new e-One truck with a platform ... and somehow they fell out of the bucket." Kilgore Fire Operations Chief Dennis Gage said. "I really haven't been able to determine much more than that at this point."
It was not immediately known how high the aerial was raised at the time of the accident.
Kilgore Police officials told Firefighter Nation that both men were seriously injured in the fall and transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview, where they succumbed to their injuries.
The cause of the accident was under investigation by the Kilgore Police and Kilgore Fire Department, according to Lt. Roman Roberson of the Kilgore Police Department.
The dormitory where the accident occurred is on the campus of Kilgore College. According to the college's Web site, the campus includes an extensive fire academy. Galloway graduated from the Kilgore Fire Academy in May 2005.
College spokesman Chris Craddock said the building is routinely used for fire training because it's the city's tallest, the Associated Press reported.
It wasn't immediately known how long the department had been operating the ladder truck, but it had responded to a structure fire Friday night with other Kilgore units. Additional photos of the incident and a platform aerial believed to be the same in action can be seen on the News Journal web site here. There are no reports that the aerial itself malfunctioned in Sunday's tragedy.
Kilgore is a combination fire department about 120 miles east of Dallas.
Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed Cancun Dave's in Kilgore Friday, January 23, 2009. The department's new platform aerial can be seen operating at the incident. Les Hassell/Courtesy News-Journal Photo - More Photos of Friday's Fire
Additional information and links will be posted as they become available.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Chaknis on
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my prayers go out to everyone,
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Permalink Reply by Betty Cook on
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My prayers go out to these 2 families and the Fire dept as well. Such a tragic lose we never know when we go out for fires or training how things are going to go. We always hope and pray for the best. Again my prayers go out to these families
Betty
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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Our Hearts and prayers go out to their families and Dept. As we all train to make our selves better in what we do.....this is our reality.
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Permalink Reply by Denise Co 29 on
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Wow ! what a shame. I will keep their families and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers.
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Permalink Reply by Gary Wilson on
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it's a shame we have to lose such good firefighters.Kilgore is just a five to 10 min drive for me.my prayers go out to there familys and there department.but it's our job you just never know.never forgotten!!!!!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Lockridge on
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Thoughts and prayers go out to families and crew
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Permalink Reply by David M Ross on
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Rest In Peace Brothers. My prayers go out to their families and Department.
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