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Chief shares logbook account of early chief's death that shaped Leesburg's firefighting culture
Summary
Fire Chief Joe Mirra recounted finding a logbook entry about Chief Ned Stevens, who died after entering a blaze while searching for a child; Mirra said the episode illustrates a long-standing culture of service and sacrifice in the department.
During research for a historical presentation, Chief Joe Mirra said he discovered logbook entries that clarified an early, long-told story about a chief who died in the line of duty. "He he died in the fire," Mirra said, describing Chief Ned Stevens's death and the subsequent signings in the station logbook by his brother.
Mirra recounted that the Stevens brothers served as chief and assistant chief, and that during the fire the truck carried only one air pack; one brother donned it and the other did not. Mirra said the chief who entered to search for a reportedly trapped child later passed away, "more than likely due to carbon monoxide poisoning," and framed the episode as an example of the department's "service over self" ethic passed down through generations.
Mirra said uncovering the logbook entry helped move the story from oral tradition to documented history. He described sharing the finding as part of a presentation to the Leesburg Historical Society as the department marks its 150th year.
