When Tommy McDonough learned to talk, one of his first words was “fire truck.” His father, a longtime St. Paul firefighter, never doubted he would follow in his footsteps.
For Mike Paidar, his path to the St. Paul Fire Department came after a successful career as a TV photojournalist. He joined the department when he was 44.
And Floyd Jones, who was born and raised in St. Paul, was a trailblazing firefighter who served the city for more than two decades.
Members of the St. Paul fire service and their families are mourning the recent losses of the three — men in the prime of their lives whose deaths demonstrate some of the greatest risks for firefighters, said Chris Parsons, president of Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters. One was battling cancer, another had cancer in recent years, and one died by suicide.
READ MORE: https://www.twincities.com/2020/08/31/st-paul-firefighters-mourn-3-who-died-in-less-than-two-weeks/