Fallen Springs Firefighter Honored On Memorial Wall

Colorado Springs firefighters are getting ready to honor the fallen next week, including one of their own. Families come from all over the country for the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Observance at Memorial Park.

This year, 86 names of union firefighters have been added to the memorial wall, including Capt. Pamela Butler. She was 53 when she died of cancer of last year. The disease was linked to carcinogens and chemicals she was exposed to on the job.

“It obviously hits pretty close to home when we get to add the name of our members on there,” said Jeremy Kroto, President of IAFF Local 5.

Butler is only the second CSFD firefighter to be honored on the wall. Like Butler, many of the fallen succumbed to job-related illnesses.

“It may not produce the same emotions of someone falling through a floor or falling through a roof or dying in the line of duty, but it’s absolutely as a result of them performing their duties as a firefighter,” said Kroto.

Butler filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against Colorado Springs in 2009, and settled for $7,000. She was the city’s first African-American battalion chief.

“We as a family are so proud of Pam as she is honored as a fallen CSFD member,” said Guy Butler, her brother. “She was a trailblazer.”

He and the other family members who come to honor loved ones this year will see a refurbished memorial site. It’s being freshly etched, cleaned and painted for first time since it was built in 1988.

The service will take place on Saturday Sept. 17.