car hits and kills Michigan fire chief

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Pleasantview Fire District news (more)

Jun 22

Posted by Admin in Fire Department Funeral, LODD | 3 Comments

Funeral service for Comstock Township MI Fire Chief Ed Switalski

Tim Olk photo

Excerpts from woodtv.com:

Hundreds of police officers and firefighters from across the Midwest joined community members in Kalamazoo Wednesday to honor Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski, who was hit by a vehicle and killed last week during a call.

The chief was laid to rest with full honors, including the presentation of a duty medal, a bell ceremony, taps, a flag folding, a 21-gun salute, and his final call.

Everyone who spoke of Switalski, whether family or friend, shared a common theme: a giving heart.

“He constantly cared about others. He was there every step of the way when my Auntie Holly had breast cancer. He was there and donated his kidney when his nephew Christopher needed one,” his niece said.

Switalski leaves behind a wife and two daughters, one of whom spoke during the funeral.

“I am also honored to be the last family member to have seen and spoken to him,” Emily Switalski said. “Before he went on every call, My mom, my sister and I would always say, ‘I love you. Be safe.’ And those words were the last words I was ever able to say to him.”

Before the final call for Switalski sounded, hundreds of firefighters from Michigan, Indiana and Illinois — where Switalski worked for some 30 years before becoming chief in Comstock Township in 2013 — took part in his funeral procession.

A restored 1937 fire truck carried his body 24 miles from the funeral home through downtown Kalamazoo and Comstock Township before arriving at Wings Event Center. Firefighters in nearly 200 fire engines followed. Members of the public lined the streets to say thank you.

The procession continued out of Kalamazoo and past Comstock’s three fire stations. Outside the station on River Street, the chief’s bunker gear and helmet were laid out on the apron as Battle Creek firefighters, filling in so Comstock crews could attend the funeral, stood by. None of the BCFD firefighters had ever met Switalksi, but they were working on their day off to honor him.

“Myself and the other fire fighters from Battle Creek consider this a great honor to be able to cover this station for these fire fighters and for their chief,” BCFD Lt. Lamar Mingle said.

Gov. Rick Snyder ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags lowered to half-staff Wednesday in honor of Switalski.

thanks Dan

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Tags: car hits and kills Michigan fire chief, Comstock Township Department of Fire & Rescue, Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski, Fire Chief Edward Switalski, fire chief hit by car at accident scene, fire department funeral, former Pleasantview fire chief killed in Michigan, Pleasantview Fire District, Tim Olk

Pleasantview Fire District news

Jun 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, LODD | 5 Comments

Excerpts from woodtv.com:

Comstock Township (MI) Fire Chief Edward Switalski was hit and killed by a passing vehicle while responding to an unknown accident on eastbound I-94, Kalamazoo County authorities say.

Oshtemo Township Fire Department Chief Mark Barnes said it all started with the Comstock Township Department of Fire & Rescue looking for two crashes on eastbound I-94 near mile marker 81 around 10:30 p.m., after heavy rains. When they arrived, they found an empty vehicle and no injuries to report.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office said as fire crews were getting ready to leave the scene, a passing vehicle lost control and hit Switalski, who was standing near the rear of his rescue vehicle.

Crews at the scene tried to revive Switalski, but were unsuccessful. He died at the scene.

The driver of the at-fault vehicle was taken to Borgess Methodist Hospital with injuries from the crash.

After serving more 30 years at Pleasantview Fire District in Illinois, Switalski moved to West Michigan in 2013 to be closer to his daughters, who were attending Western Michigan University.

He was sworn in on July 1, 2013, replacing a fire chief who had been with the department for more than 40 years.

Messages of sympathy filtered in fast Thursday morning.

thanks Keith

Chief Ed Switalski retired after 34 years on Pleasantview Fire District in 2013 and was 55 years old.

From Art Zern:

Ed was a wonderful guy, firefighter, instructor and a true character. Ed retired as a Battalion Chief from the Pleasantview Fire District (after 24 years) about 4 years ago taking a job as Fire Chief Comstock Township Dept. of Fire and Rescue (Michigan). I’m sure many of your readers will have known Ed or taken a class he taught at SUFD, NIPSTA or from the Illinois Fire Chiefs. Most sincere condolences to Ed’s wife Holly and his daughters Emily and Allison.

Art Zern

Excerpts from firefightersclosecalls.com:

It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you that the Fire Service profession & FireFighterCloseCalls/The Secret List has lost a friend in the Line of Duty.

At approximately 2230 hours last night (Wednesday) Comstock Township (Kalamazoo County) Fire Chief Ed Switalski was struck and killed in the Line of Duty while he worked at a crash scene on I-94. Chief Switalski was standing at the rear of his command vehicle returning equipment to service when another vehicle entered the scene striking the Chief and the rear of his vehicle.

Comstock firefighters and the entire EMS system did their very best to save his life but his injures were just too severe to survive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Comstock Fire had followed all best practices yet the driver somehow made it around a blocking engine.

It should be noted that this “stretch” of I-94 has a long history of tragic outcomes.

While you will read more in the coming days, Chief Switalski, was a true hero and beloved friend to the Illinois, Michigan, and US fire service. Among many accomplishments, he received the medal of valor for his actions involving the Line of Duty death of a firefighter as a member of the Pleasantview FPD, IL in 1989.

Our sincere condolences to all involved and especially his wife Holly and his daughters Emily and Allison along with the Comstock firefighters.

Tags: car hits and kills Michigan fire chief, Comstock Township Department of Fire & Rescue, Fire Chief Edward Switalski, fire chief hit by car at accident scene, former Pleasantview fire chief killed in Michigan, Oshtemo Township Fire Department Chief Mark Barnes, Pleasantview Fire District