SPENCER, W.Va. — Services for a fallen firefighter in Roane County are set for this Saturday, but anticipating a large number of mourners, the hours have been extended for the visitation ahead of the service.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office announced Thursday visitation for firefighter Mark Horwich will start Saturday at 9 a.m. at Roane County High School. His funeral will start at noon with full firefighter honors. That will also be held at the school.
Horwich, who was a member of both the Spencer-Roane VFD and the Clover VFD, was killed last Saturday when the firetruck he was driving for the Clover VFD lost control and crashed on the way to a fire call. The truck landed upside down in Little Sandy Creek with the cab crushed.
Horwich is the first firefighter killed in the line of duty in Roane County history, according to local officials.
Gov. Jim Justice has issued a proclamation Thursday ordering all United States and West Virginia state flags at the Capitol Complex and all state-owned facilities in Roane County be displayed at half-staff, from dawn to dusk on Saturday “in commemoration of the distinguished life and service of volunteer firefighter Mark Elliot Horwich.”
Horwich had worked as a firefighter since 2001, serving with the Boys Town Fire Department in Nebraska prior to his relocation to West Virginia. He was also the developer and owner of a software crated specifically to help volunteer fire departments keep track of all records.
He’ll be buried at a cemetery near Looneyville in Roane County.