Your purchase supports our mission to honor America’s fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury.
Search
Close this search box.
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Roll of Honor

Age: 36
Year of Death: 1989

Alan L. Mickelson

Submitted by his wife

Died: January 31‚ 1989 at 36 Years of Age

Alan Lee Mickelson‚ 36 years old‚ died in the line of duty after a church roof collapsed and he fell 40 feet. Unknown to the firefighters‚ the fire had been burning for seven hours in a concealed area between the ceiling and the roof area‚ before the fire was discovered.

Alan was a plant mechanic for Amax Coal Company‚ but had been a volunteer firefighter for ten years. He was one of the first four in Campbell County‚ Wyoming to receive their Firefighter III certification‚ which was the highest level in Wyoming at the time. Alan was very active in the fire department. He helped organize the ‘Ladder Company’‚ served as vice president of the volunteers and was chairman of the membership committee. He also helped with alot of the fire training both with the fire department and the community.

Alan was also very active in a lot of other community programs. He was an assistant coach for his son’s and daughter’s little league teams‚ umpire for the Gillette Little League for seven years‚ assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 64 and one of the leaders of a high adventure group for the older boys. He took them on many backpacking trips. He was active in Trinity Lutheran church‚ taught children how to bowl through Y.A.B.A‚ and helped his wife deliver ‘Meals On Wheels’ to the elderly for many years. He also helped his wife with their daughter’s Girl Scout troop. He loved spending family time with his wife – Marietta‚ son – Chad Alan‚ and daughter – Tanya Marie. He enjoyed taking them camping in the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills.

After Alan’s death‚ the community‚ fire department personnel‚ local businesses‚ family and friends raised $200‚000 through various fundraisers/donations‚ with additional funds coming from the city of Gillette and Campbell County commissioners to build a training facility in his memory. It is called‚ Alan Mickelson Fire Training Center. It is used for training and educating firefighters and cadets‚ the sheriff and police departments‚ local area coal miners and oil field workers‚ bus drivers and area school children about fire safety. It also hosts the International Mine Rescue Competition every year. Fire safety and training were very important to Alan. He would be very proud and honored to know there is a facility available to be used for that purpose.

Alan touched the lives of many people‚ young and old. He always had a smile on his face and time to visit with anyone who needed a friend. His family and friends will never forget his quiet manner‚ his genuine smile and his love for life. We love and miss him very much.

Memorial Posts

Previous
Next
Previous
Next
Previous
Next
Previous
Next

Memorial Wall

  • (will not be published)

  1. Alan and I used to kid each other about how our department was pretty backwards and how it would take one of us getting killed for things to change. Unfortunately Alan died, but fortunately our prediction came true, and Campbell County Fire Department has become a national leader in combination departments. After 15 years, I still miss him like a true brother. Rest easy Alan, we’re taking care of business

    – Bob Ernst
  2. I really never met him but I heard stories about how he looked out for anybody

    – Nicole James