Fallen Perry Firefighter Remembered By Friends And Family

Deanne Stein, News9.com

PERRY, Oklahoma -- A community remembers a fallen firefighter who died while battling a grassfire.

Captain Kyle King with the Perry Fire Department collapsed at the scene of a grassfire in Noble County on July 29. King had been fighting the grassfire and an abandon structure fire for about an hour when he collapsed. Fellow Perry firefighters performed life saving measures at the scene.

Captain King was taken to Perry Memorial Hospital then flown to Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. He passed away at the hospital on August 7.

King began his career as a volunteer for the Perry Fire Department in 1989. He became a full time firefighter the following year. Kyle was a trained a firefighter, EMT, training officer, building inspector and fire prevention officer. Kyle worked his way up through the ranks from Firefighter to Captain in 2004.

"Kyle was an outstanding Firefighter and EMT," said Perry Fire Chief Wayne Emmons. "He was dedicated, never complained, never lost his cool and would listen to anyone's problems, whether they were work related or personal."

In December of 2003, King was awarded the first "Perry Firefighter of the Year Award" voted on by his peers.

"Kyle will be deeply missed by his family and all of us here at the fire department," said Chief Emmons. "He was a friend, a brother and mentor for all of the Perry Firefighters. He enjoyed being around his family, especially his grandkids."

Emmons said the King Family wishes to extend their thanks to the Perry Fire Department, Perry Hospital E.R. nurses and staff, Dr. Jim Knecht, Integris Baptist ICU nurses and staff and to fellow firefighters, Ben Treiner, Jimmy Smith and Jeff Sipple.