On the morning of September 8th, 1906 Firefighter John Melton of Station No. 1 had just finished his shift and was about to leave the station when a fire was reported at the Eagle Hat and Millinery Store on 21st Street. As was the nature of all firefighters, Melton decided to give his fellow firefighters a hand and make the run with them. As Melton attempted to jump onto the already moving wagon, loss his footing and fell under the wagon and crushed. Melton was taken to the infirmary but died of head injuries before he could be taken to the operating room.

Firefighter E. M. Philen died on April 14th, 1909. As the custom in those days, when the Department held a practice drill large crowds would gather to watch. The firefighters were just about finished when Philen began his descent from the aerial ladder. About 30 feet  from the ground, Philen lost his footing and grip and fell. Although suffering from severe head injuries and crushed hands, he survived the fall and was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital where he died shortly after arriving. Philen, age 22, was described by fellow firefighters as having "a splendid reputation." He was a member of Station No. 1.

On November 25th, 1911, an alarm sounded for a fire in the Bragg Building which housed Roberts & Sons Printing Company and Loveman, Joseph and Loeb Department Store. Firefighter J. M. Massey, a member of Hose Company No. 1, responded to the alarm. After some time, the fire was brought under control and Massey, Captain K. R. Johnson and Firefighter B. A. Slaughter  were checking for hot spots in the basement  of the building. Suddenly, a printing press came crashing through to the basement burring them under the debris. a search for the three missing men began and hearing their cries for help the searchers found Johnson and Slaughter who were injured but alive. During the search, it was reported that the men were "tired, wet, cold and dirty and showed signs of unmistakable grief. It was not common sight to see a big tear coursing its way down the grimy face of a big strong man as he spoke o Old Massey." Some eight hours after the search began, Massey's body was found.

Firefighter J. A. Smith, age 26, had just been made Forman of Station No. 3 a few weeks earlier when, on March 21st, 1912, an alarm came in for a house located at 1312 St. Charles Street. While on their way to the fire Smith notice that a large crowed had gathered. thinking that the fire was where the crowd gathered, he ordered the wagon to stop. when it was determined that the fire was several houses down, Smith ordered the wagon to proceed. Smith attempted to mount the moving wagon but was thrown beneath the wheels and crushed. He was rushed to Highland Infirmary where his fellow firefighters remained at his bedside until he died.

On November 21st, 1914, the members of Station No. 6 took their aerial truck out for a trial run. As they rounder the corner, the rear wheels locked, causing the truck to hit a telegraph pole. Firefighter D. G. Karrh was riding on the back at the time and was thrown off the truck. Karrh was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital. His brother, who was also a firefighter at Station No. 1, hurried to his bedside with Chief Middleton. His last words to Chief Middleton were, "Somehow, I know I'm going to answer the jingle bell mighty soon. Good-by Chief." During that period of time, when a call came in, the watchman would sound the alarm which was referred to as the "jingle bell" and was said to make a loud enough clamor to wake the soundest of sleepers. Karrh was one was one of the best known firefighters in the city and was only 35 years old at the time of his death. Brother Bryan officiated at his funeral.

Firefighter Ed E. Young, age 33, was the Department's next loss. On February 3rd, 1918, a fire erupted at the Union Cotton Oil Company located at 5th Avenue and 47th Street North. The fire broke out around midnight and firefighters worked feverishly to control the fire. During this time a wall fell, crushing Young. A spectator reported the incident to the fire officials on the scene. Newspaper accounts reported that the fire officials "place little credence on the statement and continued to fight the fire." When the company arrived back at the Woodlawn Station, No. 12, Young was found missing. The men returned to the scene an began a search for Young. His body was found some time later. The fire that had begun at midnight lasted well into the next day and was thought to have been started by someone pouring oil on a hot motor. At least one mill worker was reported seriously injured with  a broken back sustained when he jumped from a window to escape the flames.

Although there is not much documentation concerning his death, Captain J. S. Summers is thought to have died in the line of duty some time in the early 1920's. He first became a member of the Department on December 1st, 1893. At the time of his death, Summers was responding to an alarm when he was accidentally run over and killed by the fire engine. An old photograph of Station No. 6 shows a ribbon hanging over the door and is said to have been placed there in the memory of Captain Summers.

In 1921 two firefighters were killed within days of each other. Firefighter James R. Stark died on July 6th, 1921 while fighting a fire at a residence located at 26th Avenue North. Stark was a member of Station No. 13 in North Birmingham. When the company arrived on the scene, Stark took a hand held fire extinguisher and proceeded to the structure' roof. While attempting to control the blaze. The extinguisher being used by Stark exploded. The explosion blew Stark five feet in the air and off the roof. Stark was taken to Norwood Infirmary where he died two hours later from head injuries. Stark had been a member of the Department for 10 years, was married and 31 years old.

The next fatality suffered by the Department occurred on July 17th, 1921 when Firefighter Earl C. Perkins was electrocuted while fighting a boxcar fire near the West End Lumber Company yards. It was the second trip of the night to the boxcar to extinguish a fire. While fighting the fire, Perkins became entangled in a live wire. Due to the danger of injury to firefighters trying to rescue Perkins, it took half an hour before he could be freed from the wire. Attempts at resuscitation were made from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Perkins was married with his wife at the West End Fire Station, (Station No. 15). 

Firefighter W. E. Craven while answering an alarm suffered head and back injuries when the engine  made an unsuspected turn throwing Craven off the engine. It is unknown what Station he was working at or the Hospital he was taken to. Craven died March 18th, 1936 a few day after the accident.

Captain Thomas R. Cook of Station # 12 responded to an alarm and injured his head coming out of a basement of a house. He died from head injuries on November 11th 1936. He was 53 years old. [Grandfather of Captain Jack O. Crews].

The next two Firemen to die on June 19th, 1937 and were from Station No. 4 they were both on the engine answering an alarm to Birmingham Ice and Storage Company 2124 - 4th Avenue. Assistant Chief Hanlin was also making the call. Lt. Marvin J. Cates and Firefighter-Driver Walter B. Fair, driver. Fair seen some lights coming up fast from a side street and swerved to miss the on coming vehicle. The engine was a high wheel engine with 2wheel mechanical breaks and it was 17 years old. The swerved caused it to overturn. Lt. Cates and Fair die instantly. Lt Cates was 37, married and had one daughter. Walter Fair, driver, was 39, married and also had a daughter. The fire turn out to be a pair of smoldering overalls in a trash can.

It was over three years before the next recorded death of a Birmingham Firefighter. On Thursday, October 31st, 1940, Halloween night, the men of Pratt City Fire Station No. 18 were giving a party for the children in the community. During the party, an alarm was sounded and the men of Station No.18, including Firefighter J. T. Pearson responded. In route, the fire truck collided with a locomotive at First Street in Pratt City. Pearson was thrown from the rear of the truck and killed. It was later determined that the alarm that Station #18 was responding to, was false. Newspaper accounts stated, "The false alarm was turned in during the height of the merriment and was followed by the death of a man who been aiding in bringing happiness to the young folks and their elders in the community... There was a hush over the crowd at the station as they received the news of the fatal accident. A few minutes later the Halloween celebrants left the station in sadness." Pearson was a fifteen year veteran of the Department and was 38 years old.

Nine years later, on the night of November 20th, 1940, a fire broke out between 6 and 6:30 p.m. ay the First Congregational Church located at 7th Avenue and 15th Street North. Station No. 1 responded to the alarm and there. Firefighter C. K. Hampton lost his life while battling the blaze in the 42 year old church. Hampton was taken to West End Baptist Hospital, now Birmingham Medical Center-Princeton following his collapse at the scene. The cause was listed as asphyxiation. Hampton had joined the Department almost seven years to the day prior to his death. He was married and was 32 years old.

The next death of a Birmingham Firefighter was on December 22nd, 1976. Lt. R. E. Murray was on his way to work at Station No. 3 when he notice a fire at a Southside building and stopped to help his fellow firefighters. Lt. Murray was walking along the roof of the building when, stepping on a fire weaken section, he plunged into the room below where most of the fire was confined. As Murray's body was being brought from the debris, fellow firefighters stood at attention, in stunned silence in sixteen degree weather. A fifteen year veteran of the Department. Lt. Murray was married, the father of two daughters and 37 years old at the time of his death.

One of the most tragic and senseless deaths occurred during the early morning of March 24th, 1984. Firefighter Gerald DeJohn, a member of Station No. 16 in Ensley responded with his crew to a wreck on Highway I-59. Just after rendering aid to those injured in the wreck, DeJohn was struck and killed by a drunk driver. DeJohn was taken to Carraway Medical Center by Life Saver Helicopter where he died at 6:17 a.m.. The driver of the car was convicted in his death but was only given one year in jail and five years probation. DeJohn was a well known member of the Department and his death at the hands of a drunk driver saddened all. DeJohn was only 31 years old.

Another sad and tragic death occurred on June 23rd, 1988. Lt. Tommy Hale was a member of Station No. 32 on Highway 280 just south of Highway I-459, at Birmingham's southeastern city limits. For several days, the dry weather had prompted numerous woods fires in the area. Lt. Hale was involved in fighting one of these persistent fires when he was overcome by heat exhaustion and died at the scene. Fellow firefighters were saddened and angered by the circumstances of his death. Lt. Hale left behind a wife and three children. He was 40 when he died.

Firefighter Randy Reid, a driver at Fire Station No. 24 in Central Park was taking his annual physical fitness test on September 21st, 1996, which included a series of sit-ups, a bench press and a choice of a three mile walk or a half mile run. While he was doing his three mile walk at the UAB track he reported lower leg pain. The rescue unit that was on standby at the track determined that he had low blood pressure and took him to Health South Medical Center and then on to Brookwood Medical Center where he died of heart failure. Randy was 42 and a 18 year veteran of the Department. He was survived by his wife Sandra and a teenage son and daughter.

Captain Billy A Gafford, Jr., Birmingham Fire Station #16, age 56, departed this life on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, of a heart attack while taking his annual physical fitness test. He was born August 19, 1950. He grew up in Pratt City and attended Glenn Vocational School where he became a draftsman. He worked as a structural steel detailer for over 30 years until September 2001. Billy became a firefighter in June 1984 after graduating from Birmingham's Firefighters Rookie School. In addition to full time firefighting duties, he donated his spare time with the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief from 1989-1991. He serve Birmingham Fire & Rescue for 23 years. He was a certified as a Hazardous Materials Technician as well as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic). He was the firefighter's representative for Birmingham Retirement & Relief System and the representative for the Fireman and Policeman Supplemental Pension System. Billy recently graduated from The Magic City Clown School where "Grampy" earned his Clown Certification so he could volunteer his time to make others laugh at local Birmingham Hospitals. Bill is survivor by his wife, Cheryl, and two sons, Billy A. III, and Jonathan.