HEATHER CASEY
Firehouse.com News
The death of California firefighter Kirk Schafer has left his fire
department not only full of sadness, but full of questions about what caused
the bizarre explosion that killed him.
Schafer, 36, had been with the North Central Fire District in Fresno County
for five years. Before that, the second-generation firefighter served as a
volunteer.
Schafer was doing basic pump operations on a new truck behind Station 45
Thursday. The pumper was hooked up to a 500-gallon water tank that supplies
water for the fire station.
The water tank "somehow became pressurized, then airborne," said Chief Lee
Daugherty.
The 300-pound tank flew about 100 feet into the air and then crashed down
onto the pumper.
Schafer was struck by the debris and immediately taken to University Medical
Center in Fresno, where he died Friday afternoon. The chief said they are
speculating that Schafer was getting out of the cab when the explosion
occurred, because of the injury to the back of his head.
Schafer is survived by his wife Lilly and their five year-old son Kaleb. He
also leaves behind his father, a retired firefighter from the same
department, and his brother, also a firefighter at North Central.
The chief described Schafer as having a very positive attitude a great work
ethic.
"He was one of those people everybody would like to have in their
organization. He was kind of born in this department - he spent a lot of
time here as a child," Daugherty said.
Capt. Wayne Van Ornam remembered the firefighter for his sense of humor and
desire to help the community.
The incident is under investigation by the fire department and the
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Daugherty said
they are looking at all possibilities, and don't know whether the problem
lies with the water tank, the new apparatus, or something else.
The Central States pumper had only been with the department for two days
before the accident.
"We were supposed to be excited but it turned into a tragedy," Van Ornam
said.
The $240,000 pumper sustained about $20,000 in damage.
This is the first line of duty death the department has experienced in about
40 years. "This is all completely new to us. We've never had to deal with
this before," said a dispatcher for the department.
The dispatcher described Schafer as a great person and friend. "He always
had a smile for you no matter what," she said.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 538
South Madera Ave in Kerman.
The funeral will be on Thursday, August 2 at 10 a.m. at People's Church,
7172 North Cedar Ave in Fresno. The burial will follow at Fresno Memorial
Garden at 175 South Cornelia Ave in Fresno.
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