Zachary Whitacre, 21, died this morning when the apparatus he was riding on lost control and overturned. Zach was a member of the Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department in Frederick County, Virginia. Zach died shortly after the accident at the hospital. His father, Donald Whitacre, was driving the apparatus when it crashed. Donald was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident they were helping with was a fire in Hampshire County, West Virginia. The tanker they were using was shuttling water to the scene. Zach was riding on the back of the apparatus.
Zach, his father, and his grandfather were all firefighters for Gore VFR.
You can view earlier information below including links, photos, and news.
Update 7:51pm
Update: 3:51pm
The apparatus Zachary Whitacre and his father, Donald Whitacre were on was Tanker 14. Apparently, Zach was riding on the rear tailboard of the apparatus when the driver, Donald, lost control due to icy road conditions. Zach was thrown from the apparatus and died at the hospital shortly after. It is unclear why Zachary was on the rear of the apparatus at the time of the accident.
Tanker 14 was photographed by Mike Sanders in an apparatus profile of the Gore Fire & Rescue Department. View the rest of Gore VFR’s apparatus here.
Tanker 14 is a 1986 Ford 8000 that was built by Alleghany. It has a 1500 gallon water tank and is equipped with a 1000 gallon per minute pump. Mike Sanders photograph featured on VAFireNews.com.
Update: 1:07pm
Zachary Whitacre has been identified as the Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Firefighter who died in a single vehicle apparatus wreck this morning around 4am. The accident is under investigation. The wreck happened as the apparatus was shuttling water to a fire in Capon Bridge in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Gore Firefighters were operating at this fire through mutual aid.
This photo of Zach Whitacre is from his Facebook Profile.
Initial reports were that the firefighter was 19 years old. Zach was 21. He had been a member of the Gore VFR for about a year.
The other firefighter in the tanker at the time of the accident was Zach’s father Donald Whitacre. Donald was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Gore VFR, Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department, and Zach’s friends and family.
We will continue to update as information is available.
Update: 12:23pm
There will be a 1pm EST news conference by the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department.
There have been many people on Facebook talking about the firefighter who died. We understand that some of them have identified the firefighter. VAFireNews.com does not report on details such as this until they are released by the department and/or family. Thank you for your concern.
Update: 11:18am
The Firefighter who died is reported to be 19 years old. West Virginia State Police are investigating the accident.
HampshireReview.com has a story on the incident here
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News and Information is still being gathered/released on this incident. Stay tuned as we are able to offer more information on this LODD.
A Firefighter with the Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (station 14) has died in the Line of Duty early this morning. The Firefighter was killed in an apparatus wreck while responding to a mutual aid fire in Capon Bridge in Hampshire County, West Virginia around 4am.
One firefighter was killed, another is at the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is one of eleven stations within the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department. Gore is located about 10 miles from Winchester near the Virginia/West Virginia State Line.
Gore VFR is a volunteer department, although it is among the volunteer departments which has daytime career staff.
The Frederick County Fire and Rescue Department consists of 11 volunteer fire and rescue companies operated by approximately 320 operational volunteer personnel, supported by 73 uniform career staff and six office staff.
Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department is led by their Fire Chief Dennis Linaburg. Gore VFD does not have their own web site
Links:
- Frederick County (VA) Fire & Rescue Department
- Frederick County (VA) Fire & Rescue Department Stations
- Apparatus Profile of the Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
- TV3Winchester.com -Â Emergency Responder Lost in Accident
- HampshireReview.com has a story on the incident here
- Winchester Star
- STATter911.com reports here
We regret to advise you that a Firefighter with Gore (Frederick County, VA near Winchester) Volunteer Fire & Rescue was killed in the Line of Duty early this morning. Initial reports are that they were responding to a mutual fire in nearby West Virginia. One FF lost his life and another transported for evaluation. Our condolences to the members, especially the family and friends of those affected. We will have more details on this very tragic loss later as released by the department. Rest In Peace.
Gore VFR Patch as found on http://www.911patches.com
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God’s blessings be with you.
My Family & I, along with the members of the Yarmouth Fire Department, Yarmouth, NS, Canada, express our deepest & heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends & Members of Station #14 Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department on the sudden & tragic death of FF Zach Whitacre. God Blees you all.
Rest in Peace our Brother
My son, Jon Henschel, told me about this tragic accident. The Whitacre family & all of Frederick Co. firefighters are in our prayers.
The family would like to thank you for all your prayers. Zach was a fine young man and would help anyone at anytime.
Thank you.
Diane, while we realize the loss is greater in his immediate family, firefighters across the Nation are mourning his death as a part of their family. Let us know if we can do anything for you or your family.
Diane and Donald ~ Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Our son is a firefighter in Craig County, Va and is the one who let us know about the tragic accident. Our heartfelt prayers are with you.
On behalf of the brothers and sisters of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Department in Suffolk Va., we wish to express our great sadness in hearing of the loss of brother Zach Whitacre. As we did not know him personally we are connected as brothers in this dedicated profession to serve others. We wish all the wonderful blessing upon you the family and your department. Our thoughts and prays are with you.