We remember our firefighters who have died in the line of duty in many ways, including during the annual City of Phoenix Employee Memorial in February, and the annual Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona Memorial in October. In addition, each of our fallen members have Flag Streamers that we carry on our Honor Guard flags, which are gold and black with the Fire Company, Rank, Name and 'Last Alarm' of the fallen member. They are paid for by donations and by our fire fighter's union.
We have Historical Markers, metal signs placed on street poles as close as possible to the area where our member died. The historical marker program was begun by Phoenix Police Motor Officer Walter Olsen in honor of police officers fallen in the line of duty and he invited Phoenix Fire to join in it, helping us with all aspects of the program up to and including staffing every one of the dedication services with us. They are paid for by donations and our fire fighter's union.
We also have framed copies of the photograph of our fallen members and the narrative of the incident and dedications history hang in the fire station that suffered the loss, and poster sized versions are placed in the lobby of our department administrative building during the anniversary month of their passing.
Captain JOHN D. "JACK" SULLIVAN, Squad 1.
Last Alarm: December 9th 1929.
Incident: While responding to a commercial structure fire, Squad 1 was struck by another truck. Jack was thrown from the captain's front seat of the old open-cab truck (probably a 1914 Seagraves) and died immediately. Jack was the department's personnel manager and boxing manager.
Historical Marker location: 1414 East Van Buren, north side of street. Jack's marker and flag streamer were dedicated on December 9th 2012. Jack is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix.
Firefighter AMBROSE SHEA, Squad 1.
Last Alarm: December 10th 1929.
Incident: While responding to a commercial structure fire, Squad 1 was struck by another truck. Ambrose was thrown from the back tailboard and died the next morning. Ambrose was a gifted baseball player and was slated to start as a catcher in the Major Leagues the next spring.
Historical Marker location: 1414 East Van Buren, north side of street. Ambrose's marker and flag streamer were dedicated on December 9th 2012. Ambrose is interred in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Firefighter RANDOLF J. "RANDY" POTTS, Engine 11-B.
Last Alarm: August 6th 1974
Incident: Randy was crushed by a falling wall at a commercial structure fire, and died at Good Samaritan Hospital. Randy was a former Marine.
Historical Marker location: 1306 East Van Buren, north side of street. Randy's marker was dedicated December 5th 2009 and his flag streamer on August 5th 2011.
Randy is buried at Phoenix Memorial Cemetery, 200 West Beardsley, Phoenix, and has a surviving wife, 2 sons and brothers
Engineer WALTER D. KELSON, Engine 23-A.
Last Alarm: March 12th 1977.
Incident: Walter and Chauncey swam into Lake Pleasant to save drowning children and were overcome by the cold water and distance. The children survived. Walter served in the US Navy.
Historical Marker location: 435 N. 7th Street. Walter's marker and flag streamer were dedicated September 25th 2010.
Walter is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix. Walter is survived by his wife and 3 sons.
Firefighter CHAUNCEY E. RAY Jr., Engine 23-B.
Last Alarm: March 12th 1977.
Incident: Chauncey and Walter swam into Lake Pleasant to save drowning children and were overcome by the cold water and distance. The children survived.
Historical Marker location: 435 N. 7th Street. Chauncey's marker and flag streamer were dedicated September 25th 2010.
Chauncey is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix. One of Chauncey's sons, Chauncey III, works as a Phoenix firefighter.
Firefighter DALE R. LOCKETT, Engine 25-A.
Last Alarm: August 5th 1979.
Incident: Dale was checking the roof and fell through. He was rescued from inside but died of his injuries, smoke, and fire.
Historical Marker location: 7600 West Camelback Road, south side of street. Dale's marker and flag streamer were dedicated February 10th 2011 by members of his crew.
Dale's cremains were given to his widow.
Engineer-HazMat Technician RICKY S. PEARCE, Ladder 4-B.
Last Alarm: November 15th 1984.
Incident: Ricky was assisting in a worker-trapped confined space rescue storage tank and was killed by a spontaneous explosion.
Historical Marker location: 4401 South 35th Avenue, east side of street. Ricky's marker and flag streamer were dedicated on October 23rd 2010.
Ricky is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix. Ricky is survived by his wife, son and daughter. Ricky's son, Chris, works as a Phoenix firefighter.
Engineer TIMOTHY J. HALE, Engine 15-A.
Last Alarm: February 12th 1994.
Incident: Tim was working Rescue 3-C with Paramedic Dan Donahue. As they unloaded the gurney from the rear of the ambulance, a truck struck the ambulance, pinning and crushing Tim against the back of the ambulance. Tim died saying his last words to Dan.
Historical Marker location: 602 South 17th Avenue, west side of street. Tim's marker and flag streamer were dedicated November 20th 2010.
Tim is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix and is survived by his wife and 2 sons.
Firefighter-Paramedic BRET R. TARVER, Engine 14-C.
Last Alarm: March 14th 2001.
Incident: Bret was fighting a 5-alarm supermarket fire, became disoriented and ran out of air, dying of carbon monoxide poisoning as his fellow firefighters attempted to rescue him in time.
Historical Marker location: 1516 North 35th Avenue, west side of street. The site was torn down and dedicated in Bret's name as a community learning center. A block fence pillar painted red, to the west in the parking lot, marks the area that Bret died. Bret's marker and flag streamer were dedicated March 14th 2011.
Bret is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix and is survived by his wife and 2 daughters, his parents and brothers.
Engineer-Paramedic MARK S. CARTER, Engine 37-A.
Last Alarm: June 4th 2007.
Incident: Mark and his crew had lunch at Chipotle's, and Mark returned to the truck and was found in cardiac arrest by a civilian. His crew worked to try to save him.
Historical Marker location: 15233 North Greenway-Hayden Loop and Kierland, south side of street. Mark's marker and flag streamer were dedicated December 18th 2010.
Mark is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix and is survived by his wife, daughter and stepdaughters.
Firefighter BRADLEY C. HARPER, Rescue 21-B.
Last Alarm: May 19th 2013.
Incident: Brad and his partner arrived at a major mulch fire. While dressing out at the side of the rig and on a narrow dirt road, Brad was pinned by another apparatus. All crews worked heroically to save Brad, but he passed of his injuries.
Historical Marker location: 3811 W. Buckeye Road. Brad's marker was dedicated on May 19, 2014. His flag streamer was dedicated May 24th 2013.
Brad is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix and is survived by his wife.
