NC FF dies when truck flips (with picture of truck)

[sconfire]

Firefighter killed when fire truck overturns near McLeansville

9-23-02

By JIM SCHLOSSER, Staff Writer / News & Record

A firefighter from the McLeansville Fire Department was killed Monday when she lost control of the pumper truck she was driving on a non-emergency assignment.

It was the Guilford County rural fire fighting force's first loss in more than 30 years.

Cassandra Powell, who had joined the mostly-volunteer McLeansville department as a paid firefighter only five weeks before but had spent a number of years driving for other Guilford departments, was pronounced dead at the scene on Freiden Church Road about 11:07 a.m.

She left McLeansville's headquarters station after picking up equipment and was returning alone to McLeansville Station No. 27 on High Rock Road, where she is assigned as a driver.

Trooper Royce Barham said the truck left the road on the right, came back onto to the pavement and then swung out of control on opposite side of the road. The truck, fully loaded with water, hit a ditch and overturned.

The top of the truck was crushed from front to back. Rescue workers had to cut open the truck to remove Powell's body.

County Fire Marshal Charlie Porter said the last time the county fire fighting force lost a firefighter was before he came to the county 33 years ago.
************

Firefighters and their families
gathered at Station 7 in McLeansville
to comfort one other a few hours after the wreck.
************
"She had a good record," Porter said. "It's just what happens. Why it happened we may never know. Did you take her eye off the road momentarily? Did she drop something?"

Emotions were apparent at the accident. Her husband, Joe Powell, a firefighter at Station 13 with the Northeast Guilford Fire Department, was brought to the scene briefly. Another firefighter from Station 13, Jimmy Marley, removed a black firefighter's helmet from the scene and placed it in his car.

"She was a very experienced driver," Marley said. "She was one of the best.

He and others estimated that Powell was in her early 30s. They said she has children from a previous marriage. She had worked at the Colfax Fire Department before switching to McLeansville five weeks ago. She had also worked for the Summerfield Fire Department.

On her days off, she served as a volunteer at her husband's station, which is located across from Brightwood School.
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[FlyingKiwi]

Kia Kaha Sister.

Ko tou manawa, ko taku manawa.
Kia homai tou manawa mate moku.
Kia hoatu taku manawa mou.
Whiti ora! Maranga mai ki runga!

Your heart, my heart.
You give me your dying heart.
I give you my living heart.
Cross over to life! Rise up above!

A traditional New Zealand Maori Karakia (prayer) for a dying soldier

[NJFFSA16]

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

[N2DFire]

Rest well Sister.

May God's peace be upon your family.

[StayBack500FT]

Thoughts and prayers for the family, friends and co-workers.

[d308fd]

Rest easy and may god take care of your familly.

Be Safe and My condoleces to the Family
D308

[mtnfyre21]

FIREFIGHTER PRAYER
AUTHOR UNKNOWN


When i am called to duty god
Where ever flames may rage
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age
help me enbrace a little child
Brfore it is to late
Or save a older person from
The horror of that fate
Enable me to be alert
And hear the weakest shout
And quickly and effectively
To put the fire out
I want to fill my calling
And to give the best in me
To gaurd my ever neighbor
And propect his property
And if according to you will
I have to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand
My children annd my spouse

well i know this is not correct i changed it to fit
may god have mercy on the family and care and bless them for ever and ever

may you rest in peace

NC Firefighter/Emt-d Bradley Henderson
aka ff21

[mtnfyre21]

I Am Your Firefighter

I AM YOUR FIREFIGHTER

I spend 1/3 of my life away from my family, so I can protect you and your family.

I love you, even though I have never met you.
I would gladly die to save your life, or the lives of your neighbors.

I gladly risk injury to protect your property.
I love my life. I chose this life above anything else in the world.

I am your firefighter. When something terrible happens in your life, you can always call me.
I am waiting for that call. It is what I live for.
I will come flying to your home or business to assist you in any way I can.

My food can wait to be eaten.
The training class I am taking can be paused, because you called.

I am your firefighter. I hurt. I cry. I laugh. I am human.

I learn to cope with neglect from you.
I have so many things to offer, but somehow I get lost in the political shuffle.

I work, and think, and try to come up with ways to make your community better, safer.
I put all those things aside the minute the Alarm rings, and you need me.

I am your firefighter. The call comes in… “There’s smoke in my bedroom”
I am on the way. Only 3 of us on this fire truck, but we’ll do our best.

Blackness is all you see, choking, blinding, smoky, blackness.
A hand is touching you. It is rough and bulky, covered in a glove.

I hand you to my partner, then search on for someone else.

I am your firefighter. Sunlight breaks on your face as you leave the burning structure.

Safe. Safe. Safe. Breathe the clean air. Breathe
You hear a loud mechanical wailing coming from the building.

The one who brought you out, yells, “If we only had more men” and rushes back in.
Now he is dragging another who looks like him out the door.

I am that firefighter. You watch as the fire truck drives slowly by.

The wailing siren breaks the quiet morning.

The slow parade of firefighters marches past you.

The flag above you waves softly in the breeze, but halfway down.

The flag over me is still. For you see…
I was your firefighter. Don’t cry for me. Cry for my wife.

Don’t pray for me. Pray for my brother firefighters who need the strength.

Don’t let my life be in vain. Do all you can to help my Fire Department.

Don’t say “What a tragedy”, Thank God another life was saved.

You see, I chose this life. It is all I have ever wanted.


I am A Firefighter!


- Submitted by: Bradley Henderson
Skyland Fire Department
(Author Unknown

[EastKyFF]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

[FD55]

It's another sad day in the Fire Service. Rest in Peace Sister. You will not be forgotten. God Bless your family and friends.

[FF.1205]

My condolences and prayer's go out to the family and her Dept. for the Loss of our Sister.

Rest in peace. Lost Never Forgotten

FTM, PTB, RFB
Box 8087

[FSRIZZIO]

.....

[fieryred943]

To a fellow sister...rest now, your time has come. Watch over us as we continue on everyday. Prayers and thoughts to your brothers & family you left behind.

Local 80
Fieryred

[DSallee_FF/EMS]

Rest in peace sister....... Our prayers go out to the family and Dept.

David Sallee FF/EMS
Dee Sallee EMS
Buddy Sallee FF
& All the crew from Avilla Fire Dept.
Avilla Missouri

[SPIPER]

RIP Cassandra, our prayers and condolences to your family and dept.