Fallen firefighters' group aiding Ariz. families
7/3/2013EMMITSBURG, Md. — The executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is traveling to Arizona to support the families of the 19 firefighters who were killed while battling a wildfire.
Ronald Siarnicki tells The Frederick News-Post (http://bit.ly/120XBHz ) that the firefighter deaths have been “tough for all of us.” He says the foundation immediately dispatched employees upon learning of Sunday’s deaths. A Maryland-based coordinator for the foundation left for Arizona on Monday, and Siarnicki was scheduled to depart on Wednesday.
The Emmitsburg-based foundation is collecting donations that will be used to help relatives and colleagues of the firefighters who were killed.
The foundation says 67 firefighters have died in the line of duty this year, including the 19 in Airzona. Seventy-three firefighters perished while on duty last year.