Firefighters who died in the line of duty will be honored this weekend at a national event.
Five of the 229 firefighters honored are from North Carolina and two are local to the Charlotte metro area.
Hosted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the 43rd Memorial Weekend in Maryland features a candlelight service and a memorial service.
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“The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we pay tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes – and their families.”
Ricky D. Allen he was 36 years old when he died in the line of duty, working as an engineer for the Conover Fire Department. He started as a junior firefighter at age 17 and served for 19 years before dying in March 2023 from bile duct cancer resulting from his work.
James William Goudelock, 39 years old, he joined the Fire Explorers program when he was 15 years old. He served for 24 years in the City of Dallas Fire Department, garnering several “Firefighter of the Year” awards before becoming captain. He died in 2022 from cancer complications related to his work as a firefighter.
Jeremy Klemm dedicated 15 years to the Durham Fire Department before dying at age 45 in 2021. He died from complications from COVID. During his service he was a driver and engineer.
Eddie Dewayne Fender He held several positions with the Asheville Fire Department before becoming a fire investigator. He died in 2022, aged 57, from pancreatic cancer resulting from the line of duty.
Larry J. Kye was 22 when he died during a winter storm in 1989. He worked for the North Carolina Forest Service. He was returning to the county seat after performing maintenance on fire control equipment when his car slid and was struck head-on.
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