MACON, Ga. — A memorial area is being created outside the Macon-Bibb County Fire Administration Building in honor of fallen firefighters including Lt. Randy Parker, who died fighting a house a year ago.
Parker was the first firefighter killed under Marvin Riggins’ tenure as Macon-Bibb County fire chief.
“We’re still healing from that,” Riggins said. “That was certainly a moment that is just etched in my spirit, in my mind, along with all the other members of the fire department.”
The memorial area will include a patio with a plaque on the building and a bench nearby, The Telegraph reported.
“That wall’s going to be there for families and friends for perpetuity,” Riggins said.
Parker’s death has been sobering for those who forge their way into burning buildings, the Macon newspaper reported.
Last spring, Riggins commissioned a memorial pin to remember Parker and the 10 other Macon-Bibb County firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty in the history of the department.
On the night of Feb. 11, 2015, fire commanders had been battling the blaze for about an hour, and the flames appeared to be contained, the Telegraph reported. But no one initially realized the fire had gotten into the heavily cluttered basement of the house.
Five men fell through the first floor into the basement, the Telegraph reported.
“I can hear yelling and hollering, ‘Help me please,’” recalled Battalion Chief Stephen Stafford, who retired in August and is still recovering from injuries he sustained that night. “There was so much smoke and heat coming from that area.”
Firefighters got a ladder down to the men and managed to rescue four of the five.
Parker, though, was trapped by debris and couldn’t climb to safety.
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