Everyday firefighters are reaching out to the community with a helping hand, whether its by fighting a fire, responding to a medical emergency, saving a life or by just by being present to assure the community that we are here to protect you. Although all firefighters who serve honorably are heroes, the greatest firefighter heroes are those who die in the line of duty or while being an active member of the team. They served their communities and their country to the highest level possible and they deserve the highest levels of respect and honor that we can offer.
This page is dedicated to the great fallen firefighters of the the City of Ypsilanti. They will be missed forever. Our prayers continue to go to their families.
Richard "Rick" LaPensee (48)
Rick LaPensee of Van Buren Township, joined the U-M Transplant
Program as a part-time transplant donation specialist in 2005. He had
served as an EMT and firefighter for the Ypsilanti Fire Department for 14
years. The U-M job combined LaPensee’s passions: aviation and helping
people. After obtaining an Associate’s Degree in fire science from
Washtenaw Community College, LaPensee graduated from Eastern Michigan
University with a Bachelor’s in public safety. He was pursuing a Master’s
Degree in emergency management at EMU. LaPensee is survived by his
wife of 23 years, Claudia, and two sons.
"We fought lots of fires together," Lieutenant Mike Kouba said. "He was
someone everybody trusted. Everybody thought Rick was going to be the next
Fire Marshall." LaPensee is one of six members of a University of
Michigan organ transplant team who were onboard a small plane that crashed
into Lake Michigan, Monday, June 4, 2007, northeast of Milwaukee. Rick
LaPensee was a prankster who made others laugh and always feel at ease. That
is one of the reasons his death was especially hard for everyone.
A previous firefighter trained under LaPensee says that she "owes
90% of her fire training to Rick. He is the cause of my being
where I am today. Thanks Rick."
Each One a Hero Tribute Report
Bradley Patton (35)
Patton won several awards for saving lives in his 12 years of
fighting fires -- six years each in Superior Township and Ypsilanti.
In 2003, he was honored for saving two unconscious girls, ages 2 and 9, from
a burning building (video). During
the rescue, he fell down some stairs and cracked his face shield, burning
his face, but when he was interviewed by the Ypsilanti Courier at the time,
Patton shrugged off the "hero" label, saying that "I was [just]
doing what I was paid to do."
Supervisors say that Patton was an excellent firefighter with a great reputation. "He was a good all-around guy [and] we're sure going to miss him a lot." Patton, his wife, Kristin, and their 8-year-old son experienced a fatal car crash involving a Volvo and the 1929 Duesenberg that they were driving. Patton is survived by his two daughters, Emily and Taylor, and other family.
Home; Personnel and Job
Qualifications; Fire Safety
Services; Photo Gallery;
Safety School for Kids!; Honoring our Firefighters; About Us; FAQ; Links
