Remembering New Brunswick Firefighter James D'Heron, Killed On Job 9/3

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Sept. 3 is a hallowed date for the city of New Brunswick, especially its Fire Department.

Not all may know it, but Sept. 3, 2004 is the date when Deputy Fire Chief James (Jimmy) D'Heron was killed in a house fire.

The house fire took place at 50 Lee Avenue. It was nighttime and all 15 people inside the home were asleep. D'Heron, 51, was the first responder to arrive on the scene and he knew he could not wait to evacuate the sleeping residents. There were also propane tanks in the building, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

D'Heron ran into the burning home and he was able to get all 15 people to safety. However, he never came out.

The growing fire overtook D’Heron before he was able to escape, according to New Brunswick city officials.

The city of New Brunswick works every year to keep his memory alive. In 2010, Deputy Chief D’Heron was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and honored as one of the state's "Unsung Heroes." At the time of his death, D'Heron was a decorated, 22-year veteran of the New Brunswick Fire Department.

"Jimmy D'Heron embodied the very spirit of service and sacrifice," said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill this week. "He was a leader, a mentor, a friend, and above all, a protector of the people of New Brunswick. On this solemn anniversary, we remember his heroic actions and the deep loss felt by his family, colleagues, and our entire community. Twenty years may have passed, but the legacy of Deputy Chief D'Heron lives on in the hearts of those who knew him and in the fire department he helped shape."

The city of New Brunswick flies flags at half staff every Sept. 3 in his memory.

After his death, his daughter Erin D'Heron Varga founded the James D'Heron Memorial Foundation. The foundation raised money to support the needs of burn victims and the Children's Burn Camp. There also used to be a Jimmy D 5K race held every year in New Brunswick. His daughter has also since passed away.