On February 27, 1954, the Cranston Fire Department received an alarm of fire at 58 Cliffdale Avenue in Edgewood, and apparatus from the Edgewood and Pawtuxet stations were dispatched. Driving one of the city ladder trucks was Private Richard S. Church, (26). Just as he arrived at the scene and brought the vehicle to a stop, he slumped over the wheel unconscious. An ambulance transported him to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
It was noted that shortly before the Cliffdale alarm, Pvt. Church had been dispatched to fight a chimney fire at 233 Park Avenue, and it was thought that he’d suffered some smoke inhalation at that time.
Pvt. Church had been appointed to the Cranston Fire Department on October 19, 1949. He was survived by his wife and two children, and is buried in Pawtuxet Memorial Park in Warwick.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119586919/richard-s-church#view-photo=91720200
Source:
Unknown Newspaper, “Fireman Drives To Fire, Dies”, February 28, 1954.