Chris Sanders had been an engineer with the Fire Department for two years, having served for several years as a volunteer. He also was the executive director of Mohave Big Brothers. Before agreeing to be evacuated for treatment of the burns to which he later succumbed, he bravely worked at the scene to assist others to receive treatment, including helping people into an ambulance and then helping another person drive the vehicle to the hospital carrying victims burnt less severely than he. Eleven acclaimed firefighters, two members and nine volunteers of the Kingman Fire Department died as a result of a disastrous fire and explosion that ripped apart a railroad tanker car filled with propane gas as it was being off-loaded.