BELLE, W.Va. — After a weekend of remembrance for Pratt Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Mike Edwards, the visitation service for the second Pratt firefighter killed en route to a call was held Monday at Riverside High School.
Lt. Tom Craigo, 40, of Hansford, died in a March 24 fire engine wreck on Paint Creek Road. Five members of the Pratt Volunteer Fire Department were responding to a fatal wreck on the West Virginia Turnpike when their vehicle crashed on Paint Creek Road.
The three other firefighters were injured.
Pratt Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Rod Johnson said Craigo was always at the firehouse, serving as a “second dad” to young firefighters.
“He was a hero to everybody, especially our younger guys,” he said. “They really looked up to him.”
The funeral service for Craigo will take place Tuesday at 2 p.m. After the funeral, the procession will go from the school, down state Route 61 past the Pratt Fire Station, cross into Montgomery and head to Montgomery Memorial Park on U.S. Route 60.
Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation on Monday ordering all West Virginia flags at state-owned facilities in Kanawha County to be displayed at half-staff until sunset on Wednesday.