Members of the community gathered on Thursday to honour the life of former LaSalle firefighter Bob Price, who died earlier this month.
Price was a firefighter with LaSalle Fire Service from 1997 to 2008 who was well-known for his dedication to the community. He died on Oct. 19 from cancer.
A firefighter of 11 years, his death was from a type of cancer recognized by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) as one firefighters acquire on the job. Because he served more than a decade, his death was deemed a line of duty death and he received a line of duty funeral.
“It’s very humbling to participate in the line of duty death, it takes a lot of pride, and we’re there to support one of our brothers,” said LaSalle Fire Chief Ed Thiessen.
“It’s not just our municipality grieving today, it’s firefighters from all over.”
An honour guard of firefighters escorted the fire engine with Price’s urn, leading a procession of dozens of cars. The procession stopped at LaSalle’s fire headquarters for a last call ceremony, where a dispatcher called for Price before paying tribute to his death.
In the procession was an antique fire truck that Price helped see restored.
“It’s beautiful,” Thiessen said of the restored engine. “He’s the one that organized and raised the money for that.”
LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche said Price was well-liked in the community, including in his career as a home inspector.
“He was a big part of our community,” she said. “His son is also a LaSalle firefighter, so it just really means a lot to us to be able to do this for the family.”
Thiessen described Price as a remarkable member of the fire service community, an “outgoing guy” who was always eager to help.
“He embodied the true spirit of camaraderie and teamwork that defines the LaSalle Fire Service.”
New procedures, gear improvements to protect firefighters today
While Price’s death is considered a line of duty death, Thiessen says there have been improvements made to the gear and decontamination procedures for firefighters since Price served, to help protect firefighters from illnesses acquired on the job.
“Our bunker gear, the textiles in those three layers of our coats has significantly improved,” he said.
“We also have different decontamination procedures, so when we fight a fire, we [decontaminate] on site … we washed the the heavy grime off of our bunker gear before we transport it back to the fire service, where we have an extractor designed specifically to wash that those harmful chemicals off of that gear.”
