The man who died in a Drexel Hill, Pa., apartment building blaze over the weekend spent decades fighting fires.
Upper Darby Township firefighters didn't realize they were carrying one of their own down the stairs during their rescues.
Lansdowne Firefighter Tony Rowley, 58, previously served as the department's vice president and ambulance lieutenant, according to 6abc.
"To know that he gave 30 years of his life here in the community, have a little downfall, and get trapped by the very thing you've been protecting for so many years is a hard pill to swallow," said Michael Boyce, president of the Lansdowne Fire Company.
Rowley's wife, Anne, and seven others were injured, including an Upper Darby firefighter.
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Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.