Tribute to Cody Renfroe
November 2008
Rest In Peace CF 6 Cody Renfroe |
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Cody Renfroe Rod Run 2011 Cody Renfroe Rod Run 2010 pictures Cody Renfroe Rod Run 2009 pictures Renfroe recalled by other firemen The local firefighting communities lowered the jurisdictional boundaries this week in their effort to come to grips with the loss of a member in the line of duty Wednesday. The tragic death of 24-year-old Crossville volunteer firefighter Adam Cody Renfroe, while attempting to fight a residential fire in the Painter community, remains under investigation, state Fire Marshal Ed Faulk said Thursday. “Federal investigators will be coming next week to aid in the investigation. And with our combined efforts it is our desire to determine exactly what happened, and by recognizing precisely what led up to Renfroe’s death, preventing it from ever happening again,” Faulk said. Faulk said the result of the investigation would be officially made known in a press release at its completion. Crossville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Danny White, who took time from an emotional meeting with Renfroe’s fellow firefighters, summed up the tragedy by saying, “It is a great loss.” Renfroe’s untimely death elicited a variety of responses from those who knew him, including Mike Leath, an experienced firefighter, DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency director and president of the DeKalb County Fire Association. “This is hard. It’s like losing a family member,” he said. “Firefighters are a close-knit group. It affects everybody.” Crossville Mayor James Johnston took time Thursday, to say, “Words at a time like this are hard to find. Cody was an outstanding and dedicated firefighter. “He was a leader. Whenever he was at the station, he was always working and studying. He wanted to be a full-time firefighter, and was hoping one day to join a larger department.” Johnston further described Renfroe as “one of those people you meet just one time and never forget.” Johnston, who knew Renfroe since he was “a little kid” said, “I really appreciated him. He was special.” The consensus by all who knew Renfroe was that he was a good firefighter who was liked by all. Asbury Volunteer Fire Chief Albert Childress, who was at the scene Wednesday, said he understands that Renfroe and Crossville firefighter Andy Brown were the first to arrive at the burning house on DeKalb County 482. Neighbors already had helped the home’s elderly owner, Annie Mae Morgan, escape the burning structure unharmed. It is Childress’ understanding that Renfroe said, “Let’s go check it out.” He and Brown, wearing turnout gear and air packs and pulling a hose, approached the house. With the structure issuing heavy smoke and flames showing, the two volunteer firefighters, according to Childress’ information, approached the door when Renfroe asked Brown to return to the truck and get a flashlight. When Brown returned Renfroe was not there, and the hose was lying on the ground. That caused concern about Renfroe’s whereabouts. The fire intensified at the same time, making entry into the burning structure difficult. With no hose leading to Renfroe’s possible location, help for the trapped firefighter was stymied. Childress said Geraldine firefighters, waiting on standby at their station to be called if needed to assist, were said to have heard over their radio Renfroe’s pleas of “Y’all come get me.” Based on statements of witnesses at the scene, because of the intense heat, it took about 45 minutes before firefighters were able to reach the downed firefighter. Unfortunately, by the time his would-be rescuers reached Renfroe, he had died. State fire marshal officials said the exact cause of Renfroe’s death would be released with the official report. DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said preliminary information tends to show the fire might have started do to a faulty flue in a wood stove. “Nothing is official until all the investigations are complete,” Harris said. “At that time we will release the findings.” The federal investigation, to begin Monday, is performed, in part, to ensure Renfroe’s eligibility for insurance death benefits. A member of the Crossville Volunteer Fire Department for two years, Renfroe wrote on his MySpace page that he was pursuing a career as a firefighter with a full-time department. In a not uncommon display of solidarity between firefighters in times like these, Geraldine, Aroney and Kilpatrick fire departments will cover for Crossville on fire calls. Following funeral services at the Union Grove Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Renfroe will be buried with full fire department honors Sunday in the DeKalb Memorial Gardens. In a tragic irony, Renfroe’s dream of being a firefighter with a large department would have been realized Friday. He had applied and been accepted by the Irondale Fire Department and was scheduled to begin his rookie training with them. The most recent deaths involving fire department personnel in northeast Alabama were 17-year-old Alethea Faye Nixon, with the Asbury Volunteer Fire Department in July 2006, and, the chief of the Hollywood Fire Department in Jackson County, who died of a heart attack while on a medical run in 2003. Members of the Crossville, Kilpatrick, Aroney, Geraldine and Centre fire departments, as well as the DeKalb County Fire Association, will be honorary pallbearers at Renfroe’s funeral. |
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