Firefighters from across the state will travel to the Wisconsin State Firefighters and EMS Memorial on Saturday to honor six firefighters who died in the line of duty, including three who died from COVID-19.
The 16th annual Final Alarm and Roll Call Ceremony will take place at 3:33 p.m. Saturday at the memorial in Ben Hansen Park, 2031 Second Ave. S., Wisconsin Rapids. After the ceremony, at 7 p.m., firefighters will participate in the Final Alarm Procession. They will drive emergency equipment with lights on and sirens off through Wisconsin Rapids streets.
The memorial's board of directors considers cancer, heart attacks and COVID-19 all duty-related injuries.
Three of the firefighters honored this year died from COVID-19, but officials think there are many more, said Michelle Straus, a member of the Wisconsin Local Assistance State Team for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.