Inside Our Coverage:
House Fire Story |
Former Fire Chief Was 'Always There' For Others
Child Playing with Lighter Caused Fire
Post/View Condolences
NICOLE LOZARE
Firehouse.Com News
A veteran volunteer firefighter and former fire chief died on January 12, his 48th
birthday, after suffering an apparant heart attack while operating at a structure fire
that also left 7-year-old triplets dead.
Waldo County Sheriff Robert M. Jones served as a volunteer firefighter for 28
years and as a fire chief for 8 years. He has been with the county
Sheriff’s office for 24 years.
AP World Wide Photos/Pat Wellenbach
Emergency Medical Technician Rose Saucier puts three teddy bears and three roses on the steps of a home in Unity, Maine, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 where triplet boys and a firefighter perished in a fire late Wednesday.
| |
"He was a super-terrific guy who cared about everybody," said Fire Chief
Dennis Turner. "He was always there for the community."
Jones had a history of heart problems, a local newspaper reported.
Jones was attending Unity College, studying law enforcement, when he met
Turner in 1972. Jones just started volunteering as a firefighter. He was
from Massachusetts and would avidly talk about the fires there.
"He would say, 'You haven't seen a big fire till you see a Mass. Fire',"
said Turner.
Four years later he began a job as a dispatcher and corrections officer with
the County Sheriff's office. For the next 24 years he would split his time
between the fire department, the County Sheriff's Office and New England
Patriot games.
Jones was a season ticket holder since 1972.
He stepped down as fire chief in 1998 when he became the County Sheriff but
continued to volunteer at the Unity Fire Department.
Jones made it his personal mission to recruit more volunteers for the fire
department. He would talk to law enforcement students at Unity College about
volunteering.
"You could say that you couldn’t do it but Bob would talk to you and
convince you that with a little effort you could it," said Chief Turner.
He also convinced some law enforcement officers to volunteer with him said
Sargent Eugene Rega of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department.
"He was an all-around great guy," said Sgt. Rega who served with Jones
for 22 years. "He would give you shirt off his back."
According to Rega, Jones was planning on going out with his two daughters,
Lorrie and Lisa, for his birthday the night of the fire.
Jones was responding to a call at about 4 p.m. for a structural fire on School
Street.
Carmen Freyer, 28, told firefighters that her three boys, triplets,
were still inside. Jones backed up the pumper to a dry hydrant to hook the
pumper up for a water relay.
As he was pulling a hoseline off the
truck he collapsed on the ground.
His fellow firefighters started CPR and
called an ambulance. Jones was taken to a hospital in Waterville where he
was pronounced dead.
"He will be sorely missed," said Sargent Rega.
Jones is survived by his two daughters, Lorrie and Lisa, and his ex-wife.
The funeral will be held on January 18th in Colby College at 11 a.m.
Related Stories
Former Fire Chief Was 'Always There' For Others