Update: VA FF LODD-Crash: Father & Son Involved, Alexandria Update (The Secret List)

All,

The Firefighter who died in the Line of Duty early this morning in a crash on the way to a fire, has been identified.

21-year-old Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue (Frederick County) FF Zachary Whitacre died after being taken to Winchester Medical Center. Chief Dennis Linaburg says a tanker that hauls two people, was involved in that single vehicle accident.

Whitacre had been a firefighter with Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department for about a year.

The crash happened on Route 50 West just over the West Virginia line as the pair was heading to Capon Bridge to pick up water before responding to a reported structure fire in Hampshire County.

Making this horrible Line of Duty Death even more tragic is that the driver of the tanker was Donald Whitacre, Zachary’s father. He was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The Gore Fire & Rescue station has been placed out of service and is being staffed by firefighters from Winchester.

Chief Linaburg understandably described it as one of the saddest moments in Frederick County’s history. Our heartfelt condolences to the Whitacre Family, The Gore VFRC, Frederick County Fire Rescue and all those affected. RIP.

UPDATE FROM ALEXANDRIA VA FD

The Alexandria Fire Department is continuing to make preparations for memorial events scheduled this week to honor AFD Paramedic Joshua Weissman, who fell from the roadway and died from his injuries last week during an emergency response to a car fire on I-395.

All information related to the memorial service events is posted online athttp://alexandriava.gov/LODDJWeissman. If you or your group plans to attend the visitation, funeral, or repast scheduled onFebruary 15-16, please fill out an online form to RSVP for these events as soon as possible. Fire or police department groups planning to bring apparatus, equipment, or color guard units should provide their contact information on this form. Honor guard units are not needed at this time.All participants are urged to carpool and use public transit to attend memorial events. Parking will be extremely limited and road closures or traffic delays will make it difficult for participants to arrive at events. By Tuesday, February 14, the City will post locations online where public parking is available, and provide a shuttle service schedule for groups that are parking at designated locations off-site.If you need assistance filling out the form, have questions, or require additional information, please call 703.746.HELP (4357). Take Care-BE CAREFUL

Billy G

The Secret List 2-13-12 / 1341 hours

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