Services for Two Fallen Texas Fire Fighters

Kyle Perkins

January 27, 2009 – Two Kilgore, TX Local 2996 fire fighters were killed in a training accident on January 25, 2009. Kyle Perkins, 45, and Cory Galloway, 23, fell from a bucket attached to a retractable platform.

“Each time a brother or sister fire fighter makes the ultimate sacrifice, the loss weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of all of us,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and members of Local 2996.”

“All of us in the 11th District are in shock over what happened to our brothers,” says IAFF 11th District Vice President Sandy McGhee. “Despite the dangers of our profession, we always expect to go home at the end of our shift.” McGhee remains in touch with the local and is working to provide any assistance needed.

Perkins’ visitation will be held Wednesday, January 28, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Chandler St. Church of Christ’s annex building, the GO Center, located at 2700 Chandler Street, Kilgore, Texas 75662. The funeral will be Thursday, January 29, at 4:00 p.m at Kilgore College’s Dodson Auditorium, located on the corner of U.S. Highway 259 and Nolen Street, Kilgore, Texas 75662.

Cory Galloway

Viewing for Galloway will be held Thursday, January 29, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Hillard Funeral Home at 386 North Maple, Van, Texas 75790. A rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m.

The funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 30, at the First Baptist Church on 119 East Main, Van, Texas 75790. The burial will follow in the Fairway Garden of Memories Cemetery located on Highway 16 West in Van.

On January 25, Perkins and Galloway were training with their fellow fire fighters on a new piece of apparatus at an eight-story building located on the Kilgore College Campus. The fire department had just acquired the E-One 95-foot platform aerial truck which has a bucket attached.

Initial reports indicate that the bucket became lodged. As fire fighters worked to free the bucket, Perkins and Galloway were thrown to the ground. The two were transported to Longview Hospital, where they later died of their injuries.

Former Local 2996 president Kyle Huckabee and members James Sanders and Robert King also suffered injuries. The three injured are expected to fully recover.

“We are getting a lot of support from the IAFF and some nearby locals,” says Ramon Coven, president of Local 2996. “The loss of our two brothers is heartbreaking, but we are holding up the best we can.”

Perkins had been with the Kilgore Fire Department and a member of Local 2996 since 2004. He was considered to be an exemplary fire fighter. After being nominated by his captains and battalion chiefs, Perkins was “Fire Fighter of the Year” in 2008.

Galloway joined the fire department and Local 2996 in January 2008 and was deemed by many to be a fire fighter dedicated to duty and professionalism.

Perkins is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughter, Laura; his son, Travis; his mother, Loree Baird Perkins Samford; his father, William Lee Perkins, and his sister, Lanea Cope.

Galloway is survived by his parents, Luke and Regina Galloway, fiancé Sarah Hunt, two sisters, Jade Hopson and Caitlin Galloway; grandparents Ann Galloway, A.J. and Helen Griffith.