Volunteer Firefighter Dies Near Mannford

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

MANNFORD, OK -- A volunteer firefighter from Silver City died late Friday after fighting wildfires near Mannford.

Fire Chief Brutus Beall say 45-year-old John Adams died about 10 p.m. as he was backing up a fire truck. He is believed to have died from natural causes.

The fires started about 10:30 a.m. Friday, and almost 800 acres just west of Mannford burned. Arson is being blamed as the cause, Beall said.

There were three fires initially, and a fourth was started just before they all merged.

Adams volunteered with Silver City for the past five years and served on its board of directors. His wife and 19-year-old son also volunteered with the department, and he had two other young children.

Beall says it takes a special person to risk his or her life to fight fires.

"Anyone that volunteers at no compensation on a volunteer fire department and puts his life in danger to do this for the community has got to be a good person," he said.

Adams is the first volunteer with Silver City to die while fighting a fire.

A full-firefighter's funeral for Adams will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Mannford.

02/20/2009  Related Story: Grass Fires Burn West Of Tulsa