LON SLEPICKA
Firehouse.Com News
A Frederick, Maryland volunteer firefighter collapsed and died from an
apparent heart attack while gearing up for a mulch fire Wednesday night.
Gilmore "Butch"Stitley III, 54, a life member of the Independent Hose
Company No. 1 and also of the Citizens Truck Company No. 4, worked and lived as the
on-site care taker at the Frederick County Fairgrounds. The city of
Frederick operates a mulch yard where the fire was reported, adjacent to the
fairgrounds.
After opening the fairgrounds to admit the firetrucks, Stitley was putting
on his turnout gear when he collapsed.
Independent Hose Company president Richard Lewis said they had an ambulance
and medic unit on the scene and immediately began work on Stitley. He was
transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital where he died.
The fire was extinguished but proved difficult because of high winds and
threats to fairground buildings according to Lewis. The cause of the fire is
yet to be determined.
Stitley lived on-site with his wife Loretta. Lewis believed the Stitley’s
children were grown and away from home. Funeral services and memorials are
yet to be determined by the family, Lewis said.
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