News

Memorial Monday – Wilmington Apparatus Crash (DE)

Incident Date: January 15, 1926
Department: Cranston Heights Fire Company (DE)
Number of Line-of-Duty Deaths: 3

On the night of Friday, January 15, 1926, the Cranston Heights Fire Company was alerted to a house fire in Marshallton, Delaware. While responding, just before the Marshallton school house in front of Mackinson’s store, the engine skidded on ice as they rounded the curve. The engine struck several trees and landed overturned, trapping three of the firefighters under the apparatus, and seven others were thrown clear of the engine. Neighbors rushed to help lift the engine off of the injured firefighters and those with automobiles transported the injured firefighters to the local hospital. The police ambulance was also called but arrived after all of the firefighters had been evacuated.

Firefighters who were killed in the crash were Edward Ainsworth, 19; David E. Hook, 20; and Alfred E. Ogdon, 21, who died the next day from head injuries.

The house fire, which turned out to be a small chimney fire, was brought under control by neighboring companies.

Firefighters Who Died as a Result of the Crash:

Edward C. Ainsworth

David E. Hook

Alfred E. Ogdon

 

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More About Memorial Monday

Memorial Monday is established to remember the sacrifice of firefighters who died in the line of duty before the National Memorial was created in 1981. On the last Monday of every month, a firefighter, or groups of firefighters, will be remembered through information located about the firefighter and their sacrifice.