Updated 0900 hours July 28th:

Story from Roanoke Times: Investigation continues as Rocky Mount mourns loss

Updated 1900 hours:

Added a video at the bottom of this post. It is an interview that Jamey Singleton did with the Rocky Mount VFD including Fire Chief Posey Dillon. The event was a fundraiser for Owen Lewis. Owen Lewis was a Rocky Mount firefighter who was battling cancer and recently lost his battle. VAFirenews.com ran a story on Owen here.

Updated 1805 hours:

Fire Chief Posey Dillon’s Funeral Arrangements

Visitation: Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m at the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department.

Funeral: Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Franklin Heights Baptist Church(Hilltop Road in Rocky Mount).

Donations be made to the Posey W. Dillon Memorial Fund, in care of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department.

***

This is continuing coverage of our initial report on the Rocky Mount LODD’s of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice. To view our initial coverage click here.

VAFireNews.com continues its coverage of the Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) in Rocky Mount (Franklin County) Virginia. We will be bringing you the latest news as it is released including the funeral and memorial arrangements. We will also have information for departments wishing to be in any funeral arrangements.

Please remember that this is a time for grieving the loss of our fallen brothers. We will let the LODD reports decide on the facts related to the deaths of our brothers.

At this time the Governor of Virginia has ordered the State flag be flown at half-staff.

The flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia may be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in respect and memory of Rocky Mount Fire Chief and Vice Mayor Posey Dillon, Rocky Mount Firefighter William Daniel Altice, and Tazewell County Deputy Shawn Hess, who gave their lives in the line of duty. The flag shall be lowered immediately today, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, and remain at half-staff until sunset. Furthermore, the flag shall be lowered at sunrise on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 and remain at half-staff until sunset. Source

Pictured is Rocky Mount Wagon 1A. The apparatus was a total loss in the accident. Photo Courtesy of the Franklin County Department of Public Safety. View the entire fleet here

*Charlie Robinson has been named interim Fire Chief and Fire Marshal for the Rocky Mount Fire Department.

*The Commonwealth’s Attorney will be deciding on whether or not any charges will be placed in the wake of this deadly accident.

Chief Dillon was driving the fire engine and died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Firefighter Altice was riding in the passenger seat and died on scene. Niether of the two firefighters were wearing seatbelts. The fire engine (Wagon 1A) was a 1988/1989 Pierce Custom engine which carried 1000 gallons of water. The accident occurred at an intersection in Rocky Mount on Route 40 near Sheetz. The SUV had the green light. The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One other vehicle, a ford mustang, was involved in an accident when the fire engine hit it once it rolled.

Firefighters from all over the area are assisting the Rocky Mount Fire Department with their needs.

Here are some important links for everyone to follow:

• VAFireNews.com initial coverage of the LODD
• Follow the discussion on FirefighterNation.com
• Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department
• View the entire fleet of Rocky Mount FD
• Franklin County Department of Public Safety
• WDBJ7 has the story on the house fire that Dillon and Altice were responding to here.
• Roanoke Times story from July 27th paper
• WSLS is reporting here
• WDBJ7 is reporting here
• Roanoke Times is reporting here
• TheFranklinNewsPost.com
• Roanoke.com photos
• WDBJ7 photos
• The Franklin News Post Photos

If you have anything to add, please contact us at editor@vafirenews.com or use our contact form.