Firefighter Jeff Hager
Died: September 10, 2021
Passed from COVID-19 complications.
Charlotte Fire Department
Engineer Mark T. Franklin
Died: November 30, 2003
Succumbed to injuries sustained during a fire response.
Charlotte Fire Department
Firefighter Joshua Early
Died: March 6, 2002
Fatally injured after falling into a basement during a fire response while working Part-Time for the Harrisburg Fire Department.
Charlotte Fire Department
Captain Michael W. Copeland
Died during a training exercise
Collapsed during a live fire training while commanding the incident.
Charlotte Fire Department
Firefighter Kent F. Long
Died On Duty
Passed away after physical exertion while on shift at Firehouse 23.
Charlotte Fire Department
Captain Marshall G. Pettus
Died: March 19, 1968
Died following a heart attack after over 32 years of service.
Charlotte Fire Department
Assistant Chief James M. Munday
Died: March 8, 1955
Passed from a heart attack while on duty.
Charlotte Fire Department
Firefighter Pruitt L. Black
Died: April 1, 1934
Fell through the pole hole at Station 4 while responding to an alarm.
Charlotte Fire Department
Firefighter Joseph S. Westnedge
Died: March 6, 1934
Killed in an apparatus accident while responding to a fire.
Charlotte Fire Department
W. Graham Cathey
Died: February 8, 1929
Died in a pole accident while working on the alarm system.
Charlotte Fire Department
Captain Robert E. Mendenhall
Died: May 18, 1928
Killed in an apparatus crash while responding to a county fire.
Charlotte Fire Department
Captain George W. Spittle
Died: March 17, 1917
Succumbed to injuries after a fire engine collision with a streetcar.
Charlotte Fire Department
Captain William B. Glenn
Died: July 1, 1914
Perished in a dynamite explosion while fighting a barn fire.
Charlotte Fire Department
Chief J. Harvey Wallace
Died: July 1, 1914
Killed in the same explosion alongside Captain Glenn.
Charlotte Fire Department
Honoring Charlotte's Bravest Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
Fire departments have stood as a pillar of strength, bravery, and service for well over a century. Behind their legacy are the stories of courageous men and women who laid down their lives while protecting others. The “Fallen Heroes” page is dedicated to honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Each name here represents a legacy of commitment, courage, and selflessness—a life lived in service to others. We remember them not only for how they died, but for how they lived.
Remembering Our Fallen
Eternal Gratitude
These heroes stood for courage, community, and commitment. The Fire Museum of Charlotte exists in part to preserve their memory and to share their stories with future generations. If you have additional names, photos, or memories to contribute, please contact us.