Jan. 24, 2012 - Boulder firefighters killed in accident 30 years ago to be remembered at ceremony

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012
Contact: Kim Kobel, Boulder Fire, 303-441-3370

Boulder firefighters killed in accident 30 years ago to be remembered at ceremony

The Boulder Fire Department will hold a remembrance ceremony for two firefighters who died during a training exercise on Jan. 26, 1982. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, at Fire Station 3, 1585 30^th St. in Boulder.

Thirty-year-old William J. Duran of Broomfield and 21-year-old Scott L. Smith of Longmont were inside an abandoned garage in north Boulder that was being used for a live-fire training exercise. The fire burned out of control, and the two men lost their lives. Two other firefighters, Cyrus E. Pinkerton and Daniel J. Cutler, were injured during the training. They both recovered.

The accident prompted a major change in national fire training standards that are still in place today.

“The Boulder Fire Department has never forgotten the sacrifice of Firefighters Duran and Smith or the important lessons learned about providing safe live-fire training for firefighters,” said Boulder Fire Department Chief Larry Donner. “We are honored to pay our respects to the firefighters and their families on this important anniversary, and we invite the community to join us.”

The commemoration is open to the public. Seating begins at 9 a.m., and the ceremony starts at 10 a.m. The families of the fallen firefighters will be in attendance. Wreaths will be laid at the gravesites after the ceremony.

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Last Updated on Friday, 15 June 2012 08:06