A Pennsylvania firefighter died earlier this week following a stroke while at a crash scene.
William N. Franck, an 81-year-old firefighter with the Willow Street Fire Company, had been performing scene safety at a vehicle accident at around 1 p.m. Sunday when he suffered the stroke, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. He was taken to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Joining the Willow Street Fire Company in 1985, Franck held a variety of administrative positions with the department, according to a statement by the fire company. He also worked as an emergency medical technician with the department's ambulance service.
In 1999, Franck retired and moved to St. Michaels, MD, becoming a firefighter with the St. Michaels Volunteer Fire Company. He eventually returned to Pennsylvania and rejoined the Willow Street Fire Company in 2017.
"He was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the history of the Willow Street Fire Company" and the Willow Street Ambulance, Fire Chief Craig Rhineer Jr. told Lancaster Online.
A memorial service is set for Monday at First Methodist Church, 29 E. Walnut St., in Lancaster. Visitation with the family will be at 9:30 a.m. before the service will begin at 11 a.m.
