By SCOTT HARRISON
s.harrison@krdo.com
COLORADO SPRINGS - Flags hung at half-staff and moments of silence were held at many local fire stations Sunday, to remember four Colorado volunteer firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008.
Meanwhile, the four fallen were among 103 comrades honored at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. As volunteers, the four were not eligible for induction into last month's annual Fallen Firefighters' Memorial in Colorado Springs.
Three of the four died on the same day--April 15, 2008--while battling wildfires. Chief Terry DeVore and John Schwartz, Jr. of Olney Springs were killed in a bridge collapse during the Ordway Fire. Pilot Gert Marais of Sterling died when his air tanker crashed while working for the state in a wildfire.
Capt. Shane Stewart of the Ault-Pierce Fire Protection District was killed February 23, 2008 when the tanker he was driving to an emergency overturned and ejected him from the vehicle.
Full-time firefighters say they admire the dedication and hard work of volunteers who are not paid for their service and usually must balance other jobs. The names of fallen volunteers are etched into walls at the National Fire Academy, and the Colorado Fallen Firefighters' Memorial in Lakewood.
