BERWICK, ME (WBTW) – A Former Horry County Fire Rescue firefighter died in the line of duty in Maine.
Former HCFR firefighter Joel Barnes died in the line of duty during a 4-alarm fire in Berwick, Maine on March 1, according to a post on Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue’s Facebook page. MBFR honored Barnes “one last time by assigning him to our rigs for one final ride.”
“We’re extremely sad to learn of this. Please send Cpt. Barnes’ family, friends and colleagues your best during this tough time,” a Facebook post from HCFR said.
“Joel died a hero as he ran towards danger – putting his own safety aside – so that the lives of others may be saved. The death of any member of the public safety community is a tragedy, but one this close to home makes everyone associated with first responders hold their loved ones a little bit tighter,” said a post on the North Berwick Police Department’s Facebook page.
A scholarship in honor of Barnes was created by Andrew Raymond, according to a Facebook page for the fundraiser. The scholarship will “be directly donated to a Fire Science student at Southern Maine Community College where Captain Barnes was a student.”
A group of officers from Horry County Fire Rescue traveled up to Maine for the funeral to pay their respects to Barnes.
