JOHN SHULTZ
The Kansas City Star
Date: 06/02/01 22:15
Inside: Post/View Condolences
A Dearborn area volunteer firefighter, responding to an emergency call in another community, died Saturday morning when the pumper truck he was riding in overturned.
Travis Brown, 30, was killed about 4 a.m. when the vehicle skidded off the road and flipped on Route B at Buena Vista Road near Edgerton. Brown was ejected from the rig, the Platte County Sheriff's Department reported, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another firefighter, whose identity was not released Saturday, was injured. He was transported by helicopter to an area hospital, where he was in serious condition.
The firefighters were headed to a barn fire, officials said.
Brown, who had volunteered for the Dearborn Area Fire Protection District for about eight months, leaves behind five children, a fellow firefighter said.
"He was just a great guy, a very caring man," said Dianne Williamson, a three-year veteran.
"He loved the fire department."
Brown had a soft spot for helping people, Williamson said, in his volunteer efforts with the fire district and as a nurse.
He is the first volunteer firefighter for Dearborn to die in the line of duty, Williamson said, and the mood around the station was "very somber."
The department has about 20 firefighters, all volunteers.
Williamson said a memorial service was tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at North Platte High School. Firefighters from throughout the metropolitan area are expected to attend.
A fund has been established in Brown's memory. Memorial donations should be sent to Platte Valley Bank, P.O. Box 26, Dearborn, MO 64439.
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