PHOTO: Two firefighters who died in the line of duty since the inception of the Reedley Fire Department have been memorialized in plaques.
Firefighters report the first fireman was Firefighter Perley E. Miller who died on Oct. 5, 1917. On that day crews were called to a house fire where Miller was in charge of turning off the electricity to the city lights— a duty he had performed for two years.
After turning off the lights he joined the others in extinguishing the fire. Afterwards, he was instructed by Chief Gillingham to turn the lights back on. Soaking wet, crews report he climbed the 25-foot-high pole. A witness reported seeing a flash and Miller fell to the ground, suffering deadly injuries.
The department says the second firefighter memorialized was Firefighter Elmer Madsen who died on Dec. 9, 1972, while responding to the fire station.