10/28/2026
Some calls for service look a little different than others, but every call is an opportunity to make a difference.
Two weeks ago, the Columbia Fire Department received a special request from a Columbia resident whose brother was a firefighter with a local Missouri Volunteer Fire Department. Nine years ago today, her brother passed away from job-related cancer.
The American flag that once draped his casket had endured years of wear and tear before recently coming into her possession. After having the flag professionally cleaned, she reached out to CFD for assistance in properly folding it to honor her brother’s memory and service.
Today, members of our Basic Recruit School 26-2 had the privilege of carefully folding that flag and paying tribute to a fellow firefighter they never had the opportunity to meet.
While this may not be the type of call our firefighters typically respond to, it represents something much greater about our profession. Service doesn’t always involve an emergency, and brotherhood/sisterhood doesn’t end at the boundaries of our jurisdiction.
For our recruits, this was an opportunity to experience firsthand that being a firefighter is about more than fighting fires. It’s about compassion, respect, tradition, and taking care of others when they need us.
We are honored that this family trusted the Columbia Fire Department with something so meaningful. Nine years later, we remember and honor a fellow firefighter’s sacrifice, his service, and the family who continues to carry his memory.
Some calls don’t require lights and sirens. They simply require us to answer.
