Raleigh Firefighter Buried With Honors
The first Raleigh firefighter to die while on duty in more than 40 years was laid to rest in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon.
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Lt. Herman S. Jones, a 27-year veteran of the Raleigh Fire Department, was given a funeral with all the trappings of a full firefighters' funeral.
Visitation and a memorial service were held in Juniper Level Baptist Church beginning at 1 p.m. Jones was then buried in the church cemetery.
Flags at fire stations have been hung at half mast since Jones died of a torn aorta at UNC Hospitals on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Jones was working at Fire Station 10 when a call came in late Friday, Jan. 18. He ran to respond and felt severe chest pains.
Jones joined the Raleigh Fire Department in May 1980 and was promoted to lieutenant on June 16, 2001.
Jones was the third firefighter in the Raleigh Fire Department's history to die while on duty.
On April 20, 1965, Lt. Paul Mimms, 41, died of an apparent heart attack while operating a pumper at a structure fire. On March 10, 1956, Lt. Vernon Smith, 44, died from injuries suffered after his pumper overturned on Nov. 14, 1952.
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