--
Mar. 18--A Kansas City firefighter collapsed and died Monday while battling a house fire on Prospect Avenue that authorities believe was set intentionally.
An ambulance took Terrance Crockett, 48, a 10-year Fire Department employee, to nearby Research Medical Center, but he could not be revived.
Crockett is the first Kansas City firefighter to die in the line of duty since 2004, when a traffic accident killed Gerald McGowan as his truck responded to a fire call.
After joining the department as a dispatcher, Crockett became a firefighter about eight years ago, according to Kansas City Fire Chief Smokey Dyer.
"He made the decision that he wanted to be a firefighter for the rest of his life," Dyer said.
The fire was reported about 12:30 p.m. in the 5500 block of Prospect Avenue. Arriving firefighters reported heavy smoke and fire showing from a vacant, one-story house.
They brought the blaze under control after about 15 minutes. As part of follow-up work, firefighters doused the debris to prevent fire from reigniting. Crockett was working one of the hoses when he collapsed, according to Dyer.
His co-workers said he hadn't said anything or complained of any physical problems.
They carried him outside to the front porch and began emergency medical procedures. An ambulance already was on the scene, and it rushed Crockett the few blocks to Research.
Members of Crockett's "large, extended family" gathered at the hospital, where Dyer met with them, he said.
Dyer said that Crockett was a "giant of a man" who always seemed like he had to duck to enter a room. The chief stopped to compose himself for several seconds as he talked about Crockett.
"I never saw him at work or on duty where he did not have a smile," Dyer said.
The chief said Kansas City police were assisting the Fire Department in investigating what he called a "fire of very suspicious circumstances." Because the house was vacant, there were no working utilities, and he said it did not appear to be the kind of fire that would be set accidentally by a homeless person using it for shelter.
"It is being investigated as a set fire," he said.
Dyer asked anyone who may have any information about the fire to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).
No specific cause of death had been determined, but if arson were found to be the cause, whoever set the fire could face felony murder charges, according to the chief.
Crockett was assigned to Pumper 30 at Station 30, 7530 Prospect Ave. Three crew members of Pumper 30 were among six firefighters killed in 1988 in a massive explosion in southeast Kansas City.
The last Kansas City firefighter to die at a fire scene was Battalion Chief John Tvedten, who died inside a burning warehouse in 1999.
To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send e-mail to [email protected].
Visitation for Terrance Crockett will be Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Church Triumphant World Overcomers, 5101 Bristol Ave. The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, with burial to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery at 6901 Troost Ave.
