Columbia Fire department gives assistance after a firefighter is killed in the line of duty
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
The Columbia Fire Department will now help with some of the Boone County Fire Protection District's calls after Assistant Fire Chief Bryant Gladney died in the line of duty Wednesday morning.
The tragic death of their fellow firefighter has shaken up the Boone County Fire Protection District.
Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins said the department sent an extra fire truck to station five on the Eastside of Columbia Wednesday morning. Jenkins told ABC 17 that Columbia Fire will help for as long as they need to.
Gladney has worked with the fire department for over 30 years, 25 with Boone County. Jenkins said he remembers when he first met Gladney.
"Chief Gladney and I grew up in the fire service together. We both started in the fire service in the late 80s. I was also a member of the Boone County Fire Protection District, and we grew up together. We trained together, we worked together, and it's personal to because I actually knew him and I actually grew up with him," Jenkins said.
Gladney was on the scene of another accident on I-70 westbound at mile marker 135.4 east of Columbia near Route Z at 4:33 Wednesday morning. Jenkins said his heart dropped when he got the phone call and heard the news that an 18-wheeler hit the vehicle Gladney was in.
"It brought back memories from when we had a line of duty death. It hits home when it is one of your own. We may not have been on the same department but we're still in the same type of work, we work together," said Jenkins.
Columbia Fire Department said Boone County Fire Protection has helped them in the past when they needed it and they will return the favor. "We are going to assist them as long as they need us," said Jenkins.
Boone County has hung black and purple bunting on the headquarters building to show their respect for Gladney. Boone County says this is the first line of duty death for Boone County Fire Protection District.
Jenkins said he will be meeting the officer in charge of Boone County Fire to talk about further details on how they can assist.
