On August 24, 1974, Firefighter Parks responded to a fire in the 800 Block of Main Avenue. Together with several fire fighters and police officers, they began to evacuate the apartments over Gardenswartz Sporting Goods. However, during the evacuation, the building exploded. A brick wall collapsed, killing both Firefighter Parks and Corporal Emerson. Firefighter N P “Nick” Parks III was killed the day before his 25th birthday and buried on his Dad’s birthday, August 27, 1974.