A Colorado firefighter on his way to attend another firefighter's funeral was killed when he diverted to assist with a farm fire.
According to KDVR News, Joes Fire Department member Larry Wyant, 68, was on his way to attend the funeral for City of Yuma firefighter Darcy Stallings on Tuesday afternoon when a call came in for a cornfield fire sparked by a combine.
Wyant arrived within minutes at the fire near Highway 36 and County Road T in southern Yuma County, but with winds gusting as high as 60 mph, he was overtaken by flames and killed after exiting his truck and trying to run a hose line.
Joes Fire Department Assistant Chief Michelle Smith said the small town of Joes “is very close-knit” and that Wyant had become closer to his fellow department members after his wife passed away a year and a half ago.
“We all kind of looked out for him. So it’s one of those that when someone’s down, we all want to be there for him,” Smith told KDVR.
Stallings was killed last Thursday in a crash while responding to a call in his personal vehicle.
