Apprentice Fireman Henry E. Martinez was killed when Ladder Truck #3, a truck loaded with butane and a private auto were involved in a tree-way collision at Aransas Avenue and South Hackberry on a cold January 19^th, 1943.  The novice fireman was killed instantly when he was thrown to the pavement from the ladder trucks running board. Truck #3 responded out of Fire Station #7, 604 South Alamo to a regular alarm on South Gevers and was headed south on Hackberry when it collided with the gas truck and smashed into a deserted filling station at Denver and Hackberry. Capt. Alfred S. Gassman, 49, who was in charge of the truck died on January 22^nd, 1943 from injuries he suffered in the same collision. Martinez was buried at San Fernando #2 and was survived by his wife, Juanita, son Henry and daughter Eliza.

back