The Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District is mourning the loss of Firefighter Chevy Gall, who was killed in the line of duty on Friday, April 4, while responding to a reported water rescue.
At approximately 4:16 p.m., Firefighter Gall was traveling in his personal vehicle to the fire station when he was involved in a motor vehicle crash near 3948 Highway 50 in Beaufort. Firefighter Gall sustained critical injuries and was transported to Mercy Washington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the other vehicle, an adult male, was treated and released from a nearby hospital. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is leading the crash investigation. Chevy Gall, 16, had served as a volunteer firefighter with Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District for six months. A student at Union High School, he was also enrolled in vocational training through Four Rivers Career Center, where he studied auto collision repair.
“Chevy died while answering the call to help others. This is every fire chief’s worst nightmare,” said Beaufort-Leslie Fire Chief Terry Feth. “We are devastated by this loss, and our entire department is grieving. Chevy was part of our family, and our hearts are with his loved ones, friends, and our fellow first responders during this incredibly difficult time.”
This marks the first line-of-duty death in the department’s history.
The Gall family issued the following statement:
“We want to express our deepest thanks to the bystanders who stopped to lend aid at the crash scene, the members of the Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District, and the Gerald Ambulance District for their support, care, and compassion. Chevy was proud to serve his community, and we are shattered by his loss.”
The Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District was established in 1974 and operates as an allvolunteer department, serving approximately 120 square miles in Franklin County. With two stations and 26 members, the department responds to a wide range of emergency calls, including structure fires, brush fires, vehicle accidents, and EMS assists.
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