Courtesy WTWO Channel 2, Wabash Valley
An early morning fire turns tragic, as a Terre Haute firefighter is killed in the line of duty. It`s been a very somber day in Terre Haute as the fire department has lost one of its own. Captain Ralph Stott was killed after a building collapsed during a fire Monday morning.
In just a few days, 50-year-old Ralph Stott would have celebrated 24 years with the Terre Haute Fire Department. He`s described as a tell it like it is kind of guy with a quick wit and dedication to duty. Monday, he died in the line of duty, fighting a fire.
It happened around 2:00am Monday morning at Russell`s Garage and Body Shop on North 25th Street. Firefighters were battling the blaze, when there was a large explosion, sending debris flying, and causing the facade to collapse forward on several firefighters. Ralph Stott was trapped under cement blocks, and two other men, lieutenant Russel Fequay and medic Barry Nicoson received minor injuries.
Stott was a captain with station 11 and his loss is hitting the fire department very hard. The last firefighter to die in the line of duty in Terre Haute was John O’Brien in 1963, so it`s a very emotional time for everyone involved.
"There isn`t anybody on the department today. We`ve always been told it could happen, but it doesn`t sink in as a reality until it does happen," Fire Chief John Brighton said.
Arson investigators, city police and the ATF are still sifting through the debris, trying to find a cause for the fire, which killed one of Terre Haute`s finest.
Firefighters will tell you, risking their lives is part of the job, but that doesn`t make it any easier to cope with the loss of Captain Stott, especially for those who worked with him here at the station firefighters call the 11`s.
By noon Monday morning, people had already begun placing flowers at the flagpole of Station 11 in Captain Stott`s memory. Also, neighbors stopped by the show their support, leaving food for the guys. Lieutenant Clifford Phillips considers himself to be a friend of Stott`s.
Phillips says Stott was a lot of fun to be around, and made days at the firehouse go a lot faster. Captain Stott will be sorely missed.
"I`m going to miss him a lot, I`ve been sitting around for 2-days trying to think of something to say so I could joke with him," Clifford Phillips, a 21-year department veteran, said "That`s what we did first thing in the morning."
The flowers and memorials continue to mount here at station 11. We`ll hear more from my conversation with Lieutenant Phillips` look back at Captain Stott tonight at 11:00pm.
A memorial fund for Captain Ralph Stott has been set up through Terre Haute First Bank. Visit any bank branch to make a donation.
Captain Stott’s Funeral Arrangements can be found here.
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