Pocono News Section

Remembering a Fallen Firefighter 1 Year Later

Remembering a Fallen Firefighter 1 Year Later - Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11:25PM EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Exactly one year ago Eyewitness News reported the tragic story of a deadly fire in Scranton. Three people were killed including a veteran firefighter. Captain James Robeson died in the line of duty trying to save lives.

Robeson was a real life hero - a man whose mission was to protect lives. Eyewitness News spoke with a brother firefighter who says he still learns from Captain Robeson, even in death.

Captain Robeson was on his ladder fighting a fire at a home on Ash Street when the ladder came in contact with power lines. Robeson was electrocuted and two people in the home he was trying to save also died.

One year has passed, but firefighters like Deputy Chief Al Lucas say Captain Robeson is still their leader in spirit. "We miss Jimmy, his personality, his leadership. He was a tremendous presence in the fire house. He had 25 years experience. You can't replace 25 years experience with all the training in the world," says Lucas.

Captain Robeson's name is painted on his truck - truck number 2 - the truck he rode to the fire that day. "In general I think we take a more cautious approach to every call we go on. You always think in the back of your mind these things could happen but you never really realize until that day it actually happened," says Lucas.

He also says their tradition is to always take care of their fellow firefighters’ families. In fact they put a new roof on Robeson's home. It was a project the captain had started. It’s all out of respect. "It's always been said you can respect the rank or you can respect the man, he was respected both as a man and his rank as captain."

Captain Robeson left behind a wife and teenage son. And firefighters say he may not be here physically, but they believe he still answers the call with them on truck number 2.