State Honors Firefighters Killed In the Line of Duty


State leaders gathered in Frankfort Wednesday morning to honor Kentucky firefighters who died in the line of duty.

The Firefighters' Memorial Service was held at Juniper Hills Park, site of a memorial listing the names of Kentucky 's deceased firefighters.

Wednesday's service honored 13 firefighters who died in 2005. Of the names added to the Memorial were eight firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year. Two were Kentucky firefighters that lost their lives after being activated for military service and three were Kentucky Division of Forestry firefighters that lost their lives in 1965.

Firefighters added to the memorial this year:


Lester Phillips - Sunshine Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on August 4, 2004
Anne Wilhelm Hitomi - Crofton Fire Department - Lost her life in the line of duty on October 22, 2004
Charles Colbert Webb - Mayking Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on November 6, 2004
Jason Todd Rowe - Chief, Elkhorn City Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on December 23, 2004
William Matt Goodin - Mt. Victory Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on February 5, 2005
Andre M. Ellis - Dixie Suburban Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on March 16, 2005
Robert Wayne Duff - Kuttawa Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on March 31, 2005
Gary Jolley - Mt. Carmel Fire Department - Lost his life in the line of duty on June 28, 2005
Ryan J. Montgomery - Green County Fire Department - Lost his life while on active duty in the military
David Wimberg - Lyndon Fire Department - Lost his life while on active duty in the military


Fairview Hollow Fire Entrappment/Burnover

James (Buck) Shepherd - Kentucky Division of Forestry - Harlan County - Lost his life in the line of duty on March 16, 1965

Kenneth McKnight - Kentucky Division of Forestry - Harlan County - Lost his life in the line of duty on March 16, 1965

William Brock - Kentucky Division of Forestry - Harlan County - Lost his life in the line of duty on March 16, 1965