This message comes from Dan McInerney:
I recently attended the LODD (Loss of Life During Duty) service in Toledo. On a personal note, two years ago, I was leading a live-fire attack class for Bowling Green State University, and Firefighter James Dickman was one of the students. I remember him clearly—he was very passionate about the fire service, and his dedication was obvious to everyone around him.While I was in Toledo, I was deeply moved by the emotional response from both firefighters and citizens alike. It was clear that this tragedy hit the whole city hard. Learning that the incident was caused by arson has made the pain even more profound.I’ve attached a few photos taken during the Thursday night service. They were captured with a cell phone, and the lighting wasn’t ideal for a small camera without a flash.
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Also from Dan, here is the program from the service.
Drew Smith shared this editorial from the Toledo Free Press that was published before the funerals:
Ever since the first snowstorm hit and Northwest Ohio was buried under nearly two feet of snow, this winter has felt different. We’ve had relatively mild winters in recent years, especially for our region and its history. When the near-blizzard of 2014 struck, I saw many family members of local firefighters and police officers posting on social media about how dangerous their loved ones’ jobs had become.
While we were all safe and warm under a level 3 snow emergency, these brave men and women were out in the worst conditions. Police officers were navigating icy roads, rescuing drivers who shouldn’t have left their homes but needed to grab something from the mall. Firefighters had an increased number of calls—ranging from health-related emergencies to electric heaters catching fire.
All this was happening while Facebook posts showed water-based experiments like Mr. Wizard’s, demonstrating just how cold it was. We were all amazed, but few of us thought about those who use water in these conditions to save lives or buildings.
The events of January 26 made this winter unbearable.
There’s something special about my West Side neighborhood that seems to produce teachers, police officers, and firefighters. One of my classmates lost her husband and the father of her children when TPD Detective Keith Dressel was killed in 2007. I remember being shocked when I saw her face on TV, and it hit me like a punch to the stomach, bringing tears to my eyes. This didn’t happen in New York or Chicago—it happened right here in Toledo. I thought about her children and how their lives were forever changed by their father’s heroism and a senseless act of violence.
My Sunday was filled with comfort: wine, a warm fire, and good TV. My phone was flooded with unanswered texts from people asking if I knew any of the firefighters who had been lost. I had no idea what was going on. I reached out to friends and family who had connections to firefighters. The first name I heard was Machcinski, and my heart stopped. Everyone in Toledo knows a Machcinski; Steve and I went to Whitmer together.
The second name came with a story that broke my heart. The other firefighter, James Dickman, was new to the Toledo Fire Department and a new father. How proud he must have been, having worked so hard to achieve his dream. His future was bright, full of promise—and then it was all taken away in an instant.
I realized that new faces would join Danielle Dressel and her children. That two more families had lost sons, brothers, husbands, and in Dickman’s case, fathers. Two men who left for work never returned, all because they wanted to keep us safe while providing for their loved ones.
This didn’t happen in Detroit or Chicago—it happened on Magnolia Street. We’re lucky that we haven’t seen more fires and arsons in our area, but our luck ran out yesterday.
Please join me. As a sign of respect, love, and gratitude for the two lives lost and those who survived, I think we should line the streets during the funeral processions and say our goodbyes and thanks to the fallen heroes and their families. Let’s show these grieving families that their sacrifices won’t be forgotten, and these names will be remembered. Let’s remind those who carry ladders, hoses, or guns that we appreciate and love them for what they do. Let’s teach our children what a real superhero looks like and what the noblest jobs are.
It may be -50 degrees when these fallen heroes pass by for the last time, but the weather shouldn’t stop you—it didn’t stop them when they faced that fire. It will remind the world of the heart we have and who we are. On what could be the coldest day in recent decades, let’s give warmth to those who need it most.
If your heart isn’t broken or heavy, then you might not be from the 419. We all complain about how miserable this winter feels, but 99% of us have no idea how cold and dangerous it really has been.
To the grieving families and brothers and sisters of the Toledo Fire Department: I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. These lives will not be forgotten.
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