Today at noon in a solemn ceremony, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department honored the 52 Toledo Firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Line of Duty. The number of Toledo Firefighters that have died in the Line of Duty grew by three this year as information is discovered by research done at the Toledo Firefighters Museum.
Through the years the parameters have been amended regarding Line of Duty deaths so that now some members of our department that have died in the past may now be considered a Line of Duty death.
Because of this new information three names were added to our Memorial this year:
Assistant Chief Peter McDonough died while on duty at fire station 3 on December 19, 1907. He was appointed to the department on February 1, 1885.
District Chief John Tiernan died while on duty at fire station 6 on August 8, 1917. He was appointed to the department on May 1, 1889.
Fireman Louis Palenske died while on duty at fire station 21 on May 8, 1957. He was appointed to the department on February 2, 1920.
With the addition of Assistant Chief McDonough, District Chief Tiernan and Fireman Palenske, the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has lost 52 firefighters in the Line Of Duty since the first Line of Duty Death in 1872.