Chief Van Wert was supervising the disposal of fireworks residue in a controlled burn at a local fairgrounds. Chief Van Wert noticed a spark heading toward a van containing at least one hundred pounds of additional residue that was to be disposed of. He yelled for the fireworks worker to run but was unable to escape the explosion himself. The van exploded and burned, Chief Van Wert was killed instantly. Chief Van Wert’s actions were credited with saving the fireworks company employee.
A member of the Schaghticoke Fire Department since 1956‚ he held just about every office in the Fire Department. He was a member of the New York Association of Fire Chiefs and the Town of Schaghticoke Fire Chiefs. A Vice President of the Rensselaer County Fire Chiefs Association‚ he was awarded Rensselaer County Fire Chief of the Year for 1998 and 1999.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam War.
Rest Easy, Chief!
You're always missed and never forgotten.
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