PENNSYLVANIA LINE OF DUTY DEATH~ Lieutenant Keith Rankin
On September 2011, Lieutenant Keith Rankin of the Lancaster Township Fire Department died in the line of duty. Our good friends at firefighterclosecalls are reporting that Firefighter Rankin suffered what is reported to be witnessed sudden cardiac death. Members of the Lancaster Township Fire Department witnessed the event and immediate attempts to save his life. Keith did not survive.
Jennifer Todd of the Lancaster online filed this story.
Keith Rankin was a big man. A real “teddy bear of a guy” who constantly did for others. For his fellow firefighters, that’s the tough part. “He would do absolutely anything for anyone, and in the end, when it was our turn to do something for him, we couldn’t,” Glenn Usdin said. “We were helpless.”Rankin, a lieutenant with Lancaster Township Fire Department, died Sunday after collapsing during a training exercise in West Lampeter Township.
Several of the 25 county firefighters on hand for the exercise performed CPR and other life-saving techniques, but Rankin, 38, never regained consciousness, Usdin said. He was pronounced dead at Lancaster General Hospital. An autopsy will be performed today. Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said Sunday night that Rankin’s death appeared to be from natural causes.
Usdin, Lancaster Township’s deputy chief, said Rankin had been running the “live burn” drill at the Lancaster County Fire School on Village Road. He was talking with some firefighters when he collapsed around 10:30 a.m., according to Usdin. “There was no sense that anything was wrong,” Usdin said. “He literally collapsed without a word of warning.” Usdin called Rankin a “fine man and close friend” and said firefighters from around the county were mourning his death. “Keith had been in fire service for so long, he had so many friends and was so well-respected — he was a very strong part of the local fire community,” Usdin said.
“You often hear about the brotherhood of firemen — this is one of those times you really feel it.” Usdin said almost 100 firefighters from neighboring companies visited the Lancaster Township station Sunday to pay their respects and offer support. “As firefighters, you’re constantly taking care of others; it’s what you do,” Usdin said. “In times like this, we find ourselves having to take care of each other. It’s a real blow when you lose one of your own. A real blow.” Because Rankin died in the line of duty, he will be buried with full firefighter honors, according to Usdin.
Lieutenant Rankin was a greatly loved and highly respected fire officer as well as a law enforcement officer, and an EMT. He worked as a Pennsylvania State Constable for many years and served warrants. The Lancaster online wrote a nice story about his team.
Lieutenant Rankin is survived by his wife Abby, and two step daughters. Please join with us in sending our condolences to the family and peers of Lieutenant Keith Rankin.
“Rest easy, brother. We’ve got it from here.”
Cards and letters can be sent to:
Lancaster Township Fire Department
125 Fairview Ave
Bausman, PA 17504
(717) 394-5353
There will be a viewing on Wednesday September 28, 2011 from 5-9 p.m, and again on Thursday September 29, 2011 from 1-2:30 p.m at the Snyder Funeral Home, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 (717-560-5100). The Memorial Service will occur at the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed by a procession to St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bausman, Lancaster Township. Reception for all friends following the grave side service. The location is still to be determined.
Fire and Police Departments may attend the funeral services with their apparatus. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Keith’s memory to Lancaster Township Fire Department, PO Box 210, Bausman, PA 17504
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[...] September 2011, Lieutenant Keith Rankin of the Lancaster Township Fire Department died in the line of [...]
[...] September 2011, Lieutenant Keith Rankin of the Lancaster Township Fire Department died in the line of [...]
[...] September 2011, Lieutenant Keith Rankin of the Lancaster Township Fire Department died in the line of [...]