During the early evening of Christmas Eve, 1953, the Ellicott City Fire Department was dispatched to a dwelling fire on Old Columbia Pike. The fire department responded and upon arrival found the second floor of a three story house fully involved. The dwelling was completely destroyed. During clean up, a mass of bricks from a falling chimney struck four volunteers, causing the death of Lieutenant Joseph Stigler, as well as Captain Charles Ditch.

Stigler kept after his mother to permit him to become a member of the department. She finally agreed and he was accepted as a probationary member on December 22, 1937. He held the office of Lieutenant in the Ellicott City Fire Department and was vice president of the Howard County Volunteer Firemen’s Association at the time of his death.

Joe was relieved of his duties on the fire and encouraged to go home as he was wet and exhausted. He did go, but returned. His son, Joseph Patrick, was born two days after the tragedy.