Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Structure collapses on firefighters, killing one
Lawrenceburg Now
Six firefighters battling a fire at a Hood Hills home Monday evening became trapped inside when the structure collapsed, injuring four and claiming one life.
Lawrenceburg Fire Department (LFD) officials report that Engineer Jason Dickey, age 38, perished as a result of injuries he sustained.
“It’s a tough day for the City of Lawrenceburg,” said Mayor Keith Durham during a press conference Tuesday morning. “We’re all grieving.”
Lawrenceburg Fire Chief Jay Moore told those present, “Jason is survived by his wife, Jennifer Dickey who is expecting a child in the next few weeks; his daughter Kensley, sixteen years of age; his son, Kasen, eleven years of age; and a daughter, Korbyn, two years of age.”
He continued, “They’re just like one of my own…Speaking from the heart, these kids, that I call kids because I’m the oldest guy here, are my boys - the boys that I never had. And I’ve lost one of my boys…. I’ve known this man since he was a little, bitty kid. I’ve known his dad all my life. I was his Battalion Chief when they got married and they were dating. This is hard on our community, it’s hard on our fire department, and it’s hard on the family.”
The tragedy occurred after firefighters responded to a house fire at 512 Hood Lakes Road at 4:27 p.m. Lawrenceburg City Council member and fire department Chaplain Chad Moore explained the chain of events, saying, “First arriving units requested additional help from neighboring departments. At approximately 7:57 p.m. a ‘mayday emergency’ was transmitted. Four Lawrenceburg firefighters and two New Prospect firefighters conducting an interior overhaul operation became trapped as a result of a collapse of the structure. A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) from the LFD and New Prospect Fire Department (NPFD) was deployed to assist with the rescue of the trapped firefighters. A county-wide mayday response was dispatched by the Lawrence County E-911. The RIT team was able to provide emergency breathing air to the trapped firefighters while rescue efforts were in progress. This team was able to extricate the trapped firefighters by the use of hydraulic tools and other specialized equipment.
“All firefighters were extricated from the collapse at approximately 8:09 p.m. last night. Once the injured firefighters were extricated emergency medical care and resuscitation efforts were initiated by personnel of this fire department and the Lawrence County EMS. The injured firefighters were transported to Southern Tennessee Regional hospital for treatment. The current medical status of those firefighters from last night: Engineer Jason Dickey, thirty-eight years old, an eleven-year firefighter, succumbed to his injuries last night. Firefighter Kendall Sherrell is currently being treated in the Southern Tennessee Regional hospital intensive care unit. Captain John Brewer was treated and released last night. Captain Brian Green was treated and released last night. Captain Wade Marston, who serves as the Fire Chief of the New Prospect Fire Department, is currently being treated at Southern Tennessee Regional Medical Center and expected to be released today.”
On a personal note, Chaplain Moore said, “Jason’s a young man that I grew up with; I lived next door to growing up. We were a year apart in high school. He’s a faithful member of this fire department. He loved his job and he loved what he did. Today this department’s hurting. Today these men are hurting. Today they need your support, and we thank you for your prayers.”
Chief Moore added, “We lost a hero. We lost a man that saved several lives in his eleven-year career – literally out of creeks, fires and different calls we’ve made. He was a very strong individual, a very loving individual, a very caring person. He has a very caring family that we want to make sure that we care for, and the community does.”
Mayor Durham thanked all of the departments across the area and the state that responded to provide assistance to the local department. “LFD was assisted in the fire call by New Prospect, Crossroads, Ethridge, Crawfish Valley, Leoma, and Henryville Fire Departments. So it was a county-wide effort to contain this fire. As our men grew fatigued last night Chief Ty Cobb with Columbia Fire Department sent a crew down, and also Chief Terry Hood from the Springhill Fire Department sent a crew down, and they ran the fire department for the City of Lawrenceburg last night. This morning the City of Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue and Deputy Chief Glenn Johnson with the City of Franklin Fire Department have relieved them and are carrying on their duties in the City of Lawrenceburg today. Also, I’d like to thank the efforts of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Lawrence County EMS, Lawrence County Central Dispatch, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Maury Regional EMS, and the Lawrenceburg Police Department. As you can see, there were a lot of entities involved, and I want to give a heart-felt ‘thanks’ from the City of Lawrenceburg to each of these entities. We really do appreciate all of the work that’s gone into it.”
Chaplain Moore added, “Today we’ve been assisted by the Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains and the National Fallen Firefighters Association. Standing around here today there are chaplains from Signal Mountain, Ripley, Tennessee, from Kingsport, from Murfreesboro, the Clarksville Fire Department, Shelbyville Fire Department, Henderson County Fire, Nolansville Fire – literally all across this state people have responded to our community in our time of need. Today we could not be more grateful and thankful for their love and for their support.”
Chief Moore expressed his appreciation for all who have assisted his department in any way. “We appreciate everyone who has come in and helped us. We couldn’t have done it without it. I want to say thanks to every fire agency from Lawrenceburg to Nashville that assisted, escorting and accompanying Engineer Jason Dickey from the hospital last night to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville. As we speak right now Nashville Fire Department is still with our man. It’s our plan to escort him back to Lawrenceburg when that time comes.”
“This is a sad day,” said Chaplain Moore. “We mourn and we hurt. But we’re grateful that we have a Lord who loves us and cares for us. And today we ask for your prayers for this family, for our fire family, and for our community.”
