Chief Clarence Claude Strain

Chief Strain was responding on Truck #1 to an incident on the West side of Bloomington when they were struck by a southbound freight train at the Kirkwood Avenue Rail Crossing. Though pinned, Chief Strain was able to tell bystanders how to lift the apparatus off of him and another pinned firefighter. Later Chief Strain passed away from his injuries at the hospital. 3 other firefighters received serious injuries, but later recovered.