Incident Name: Logan County Grass Fire
Date: 02/22/1984
Personnel: Edgar Owen Hardin
Age: 63
Agency/Organization: Russellville Fire Department, Russellville, KY
Position: firefighter
Summary: On 2/22/1984 Firefighter Owen Hardin and his engine were fighting a grass fire in Logan County, KY. He and two other firefighters were riding on the back of the Russellville FD engine as the driver backed down a dirt road. The engine passed over a rut and bounced firefighter Hardin off the back. He was run over by the engine’s rear wheel. He was transported to the Logan County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Maps
Logan County, KY
{mosmap lat=’36.869834’|lon=’-86.862183’|marker=’0’|text=’Logan County, Russellville, KY’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- NWCG list: The brief record from the historical NWCG archive, p8 [Historical Wildland Firefighter Fatalities 1910 – 1996 (408 K pdf)]Year: 1984
Location: Kentucky
Fatalities: 1
Agency: Unknown
Fire behavior: Grass fire
Notes: Firefighter riding on back of engine as driver backed down dirt road, engine passed over rut, bounced off one firefighter who was run over by the rear wheels.
- Owen Hardin named as fallen
- US Social Security Death Index: Edgar Hardin
- USFA Memorial Database: Edgar O Hardin
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Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Fire Department to restore inactive Fire Lookout TowerMembers of the Route 377 Fire Department in Northeastern Kentucky have purchase the Hickory Flats Fire Lookout Tower.The tower which has been inactive will be restored and staff by volunteers during fire season.The tower built in 1934 is a 80 foot aeomotor with a ground cabin were towerman with the U.S Forest Service / CCC lived while staffing the lookout.The historic tower will be restored as a fire prevention and education program by the department.The tower was sold for scrap in the early 80’s however thank goodness it was never removed.The FFLA national has been very helpful in our efforts to charter a local chapter and move forward on the project.
Thanks to Jim Getz who donated the tower site.The tower was part of the old Cumberland National Forest, now know as the Daniel Boone.Mr.Getz had purchase the site during a land swap with the U.S. Forest Service in the early 80’s.
The tower grounds will be dedicated in the memory of Kentucky firefighters who have lost their lives attacking wildfires across the commonwealth, including Edgar O.Hardin Fall from Engine, Logan County Grass Fire Russellville Fire Department 1984.
- Edgar Hardin 1984, Kentucky is honored on the National Memorial Wall at Emmitsburgh MD. Here’s the 1984 National Wildland Firefighters Foundation plaque with listings by state.
Contributors to this article: Mellie
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