As you would expect, this is a sad day for the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department, for our volunteer fire service, and for the citizens of Dagsboro, Sussex County, and throughout the State of Delaware. The Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department suffered a devastating loss Thursday evening. While responding to the station for an alarm, 17-year-old Junior Firefighter Justin Townsend was involved in a motor vehicle accident and was fatally injured. Justin’s death is the first line-of-duty death for the Dagsboro VFD in its 69-year history. Words cannot begin to adequately portray the tremendous sorrow this small, tight-knit fire company and the community it serves is feeling in the wake of this loss. The brave men and women who serve in this department have lost one of their brothers. While losing a member is something every fire department hopes never happens, the reality is that it can happen – and it has happened right here in tiny Dagsboro, Del. Our fire company now joins a select group of departments that has lost a member in service to his community, and we now must work through the grieving process as we honor a life cut too short. Justin had been a member of our department for one year. He was due to be voted into the senior membership next month. Justin completed all of his state training to be an interior firefighter and was a very active member with our department. Justin was a junior at Sussex Tech High School. He was involved with auto mechanic courses and many of our members worked with him to get small repairs done. Justin was always willing to learn and would do anything asked of him. He was a fast learner and asked for help when needed. He always had the biggest smile when he got on the truck. He liked to help people. He was a very good guy with so much to offer, and I know it was that desire to help people that led Justin to the fire service. He may not have been the best at a particular skill; but he poured his heart into everything he did. We miss him very much, and we will remember him always. While we have lost Justin, his passion to help others has not been lost with his passing. Justin was an organ donor. Even in the shadow of death, he will continue to live on by serving others. Many local fire departments are family based; not just in name, but in brotherhood and sisterhood. Our department is no different. Justin’s father is a member of this department. Justin and his father are part of our family dynamic. We will support him and grieve with him in this time of need. The Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all of our neighboring agencies across Sussex County and throughout the Delmarva region. We appreciate this extended family and their efforts to help us get back on our feet. While we are down at the moment, we will recover from this, we will move on, and we will remember. I want to assure the public that even in spite of this tragedy, our community is being protected by dedicated men and women from neighboring fire departments. If someone calls 911, they will get a response and the same services offered by the DVFD. The Townsend family requests donations in lieu of flowers to the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department in memory of Justin Townsend. The Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department will remember and celebrate Justin Townsend’s life on Friday October 5, 2012. Viewing will be from 5PM-7PM at the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department located at 31818 Waples Street; Dagsboro, DE 19939. We will continue to remember and celebrate Justin’s life on Saturday October 6, 2012 from 11AM-1PM at the Indian River High School Auditorium located on Armory Road; Dagsboro, DE 19939. A full firefighter’s funeral will commence immediately following the viewing on Saturday. The procession will go from the Indian River High School to Redman’s Cemetery on Iron Branch Road; Dagsboro, DE. Refreshments will follow at the Dagsboro VFD. Fire personnel involvement details will be released as details become available. The Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department has established a media hotline for inquires surrounding the line of duty death of Junior Firefighter Justin Townsend and the forthcoming funeral arrangements. To reach an on duty Public Information Officer please call (302) 364-2073. If the PIO is unavailable a voicemail may be left at that number and you will be contacted as soon as possible. ---Matthew Gajdos, PIO