Junior firefighter Chris Kangas honored: ‘We will never forget him – that is for certain’
Had he lived, Christopher Kangas would be turning 30 years old tomorrow.
Background Information
May 5, 2002- Christopher Kangas, a 14 year old Junior Firefighter with Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Company was struck and killed by a car while bicycling to the fire station in response to a fire call. In the period following his death, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized FF Kangas as a Firefighter, and also recognized that his death occurred while in the line of duty. Although recognized by the State, the Federal government ruled that FF Kangas did not meet the criteria to be recognized as a firefighter, therefore denying him a place on the Memorial Wall at the National Firefighters Memorial in Emmittsburg, Maryland. FF Kangas’ mother appealed this decision to the Department of Justice, who has jurisdiction over this matter.
