Lakeland first responders pay respects to Firefighters laid to rest

The County of Vermilion River Protective Services paid respects on Friday to the passing of former Fire Chief of Dewberry, Headley Dennill.

“Flags will remain at half-mast across the County Fire Service stations until sundown today in memorial,” Director of Protective Services in the County of Vermilion River Kirk Hughes said. “Thanks to the Duty Crew for providing coverage, allowing Dewberry Fire & Rescue to attend Friday’s procession uninterrupted.”

The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) also paid its respects to the former chief and sends its condolences to the family and friends of former Fire Chief Dennill during this difficult time.

“Members of the BRFA were saddened to hear about the passing of Chief Headley Dennill,” Regional Fire Chief of the BRFA Dan Heney said. “A founding member of the Dewberry Fire Department, and a 50 year veteran of the fire service, he will be missed. There is a Federal Exemplary Services medal given to fire service members for 20 years of service; that is a good measure of the impact of a career that spanned 50 years. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the members of the Dewberry Fire Dept.”

Yesterday on Tuesday, February 15, County firefighters traveled to Castor to pay homage to a line of duty death – Firefighter Stephen Rayfield.

Rayfield, a volunteer firefighter, was responding to a call close to the town of Castor when he was killed when the truck he was responding in rolled over. The community’s fire chief was also injured in a crash on Highway 599.

“The County of Vermilion River Fire Service extends its heart-felt condolences to the Castor Fire Department on the death, in the Line of Duty, of Firefighter Stephen Rayfield who passed away Feb 4 responding to an emergency,” Hughes said. “We wish a speedy recovery to Fire Chief Patrick Kelly who was also injured.”

BRFA Regional Chief Heney said every line of duty death is felt within the fire services community, no more so than hearing about the passing of Firefighter Stephen Rayfield while responding to a call with the Castor Fire Department.

“Although this is certainly a risk we face, no one wants to hear about it happening to a fellow firefighter,” Heney said. “The members of the BRFA are thinking about today as he is laid to rest, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and members of the Castor Fire Department.”