Ohio Department Mourns Loss of Veteran

............
BETTE PEARCE
Courtesy of The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram

WELLINGTON -- Why did Allan "Buz" Anderson die?

The 32 members of the Wellington Fire Department were searching for
the answer in seclusion Thursday night while trying to deal with the
emotional trauma and grief of losing one of their own earlier in the
day.

The 47-year-old Anderson, a veteran swift water rescue technician
and diver, died Thursday afternoon while trying to rescue two
teenagers clinging to a tree in the swollen waters of a tributary of
the Black River, about a half mile north on Pitts Road.

Terry Mazzone of the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative stood
in for his friend Chief Robert Walker at a news conference Thursday
night to talk about the day's events.

"The chief and the whole team are too upset to be here tonight,"
Mazzone said. "They are together, talking about the events of the
day, going over what happened, why it happened; they're grieving and
lending each other emotional support."

What the firefighters do know at this point is that Anderson entered
the water twice in an attempt to reach the stranded teens and
something went terribly wrong on his second attempt.

Anderson first entered the water from an inflatable boat brought in
by the Wellington department. He secured a lifeline, but the current
proved too swift for the lightweight boat and it, along with
Anderson, was brought out of the water.

The department called the Findley State Park, which brought a
powerboat to the swollen stream and eventually rescued the teens.
But it was too late for Anderson.

Anderson had entered the water a second time, again with a safety
line, but disappeared under the water. He emerged briefly before
slipping under a second time.

"Water conditions rapidly deteriorated and h e was overcome by the
water's current," Mazzone said. "At that point, he was pulled to
shore by department personnel using his attached safety line."

The exact cause of Anderson's death has yet to be determined. "We're
awaiting a coroner's report," Mazzone said.

The teens were in the water for 35 minutes before being rescued by
the Findley State Park boat. Mazzone said he didn't know how long
Anderson was in the water before he was pulled out.

Firefighters from the area gathered at the firehouse in Wellington
on Thursday night to offer their condolences and support.

Volunteers from the Oberlin Fire District remained at the Wellington
station, ready to respond to any calls in place of their Wellington
comrades.

"They'll be here for as long as they're needed. This has been a bad
day for everybody," said Elyria Assistant Fire Chief Robert Dempsey,
who was among firefighters from around the area at the Wellingto n
station Thursday night.

Mazzone said Anderson and his wife, Julia, had four children. He did
not know their ages or where Anderson was employed.

"Details are still sketchy. I'm sorry I don't know a lot myself at
this point. Everyone is still very upset," Mazzone said.

Anderson had been a swift water rescue technician and rescue diver
with the Wellington department for four years, but had about 15
years of experience, Mazzone said.

Anderson's death was the first fatality for the small volunteer
department in 30 years and only the third in its 125 year history,
Mazzone said.

"In fact," he said, "we were planning to celebrate the department's
history next month. I don't think we will now."

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