Earl Vanderford

January 17, 1942

District Chief, died when his Chief's car struck a train while responding to an alarm at 1:30 p.m. on January 17, 1942. The accident occurred at the intersection of Chelsea Avenue and Payne Street, Chief Vanderford and his aide were responding from Station 4 at 285 North Main Street to a shed fire at Shannon and Hyde Park. Railroad officials were charged in the incident with failing to have -a flagman at the crossing. Earl Vanderford, 49, had been with the department for twenty-four years and a District Chief for two years. He was married and the father of eight children.