The Detroit firefighter who was killed in the line of duty this morning (when the roof of an abandoned home collapsed on him) was one of THOSE Firefighters who was a leader…collar brass or not. "What a complete waste," screamed Sgt. Jimmy Montgomery, who served with Harris at the Squad 3/Engine 23 Firehouse located near the crumbling carcass of the old Packard automobile plant. "For what? For what? Some dump of a house?"….according to the quote from the Detroit News.
The fire started around 0500 in the vacant home on Detroit’s east side.
FF Walter Harris and 2 other firefighters were in the attic of the home putting out hot spots when it collapsed and trapped the men. The other two men were able to escape, but FF Harris was crushed by debris….he was rescued and then rushed to Detroit Receiving Hospital, but did not survive. Firefighters said Harris, a 17-year veteran, was the glue of the firehouse. "Walter loved to laugh. It’s going to be hard to go through a day here without hearing his laugh," said Lt. Steve Kirschner.
Harris had six children. The youngest was 1 and another was a Detroit firefighter.
"He loved his family so much. He was so proud of them," said Kirschner.
Kirschner said he wanted Harris’ wife to know he talked about her all throughout the day Friday. Harris was a man of faith and served as the department chaplain. "Their (Harris’ family) faith is getting through it. They grieve differently from people who don’t have faith," said Kirschner.
He added that Harris broke the color and social barrier. "He made everyone else around him more like him," said Kirschner.
