June 5, 2019 is a date that may be etched in the minds of Roswell residents forever.
On that day 12 City of Roswell Fire Department firefighters suffered injuries when a warehouse near the Roswell International Air Center exploded.
The firefighters were preparing fireworks for the Fourth of July when an aerial shell was ignited with an electric match, read an investigation from the New Mexico Fire Marshal’s office, leading to the ignition of other explosives in the building. Two firefighters suffered extensive burn injuries and were transported to a burn unit in Lubbock, Texas.
Firefighter Hoby Bonham was released from the burn unit on June 29, 2019, but his colleague firefighter Jeff Stroble died July 21, 2019 from his injuries.
It's a painful memory according to City of Roswell spokesperson Todd Wildermuth who said "no one really wants to revisit that."
Former Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh said June 5, 2019 reminded him there's a "dark side" to the firefighting profession.