The bell's five rings echoed eerily through banisters of Willard Chapel as the names of nine Auburn firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice were read at Monday night's annual firefighter memorial service.

Each name added its own story to the fire department and the city's rich history.

Frank Murphy suffered an aneurysm while fighting a fire on Wall Street in 1927, Joseph Anton suffered a heart attack while fighting a fire in 1932, James McGee died fighting a fire in 1939 and John Gill died fighting a fire in 1942.

Lt. Irving Dwyer was the first Auburn firefighter to die in a fire when a wall collapsed on him during the Hislop Block fire which caused more than $500,000 in damage just before Christmas in 1931.

Alfred Murphy, John Searing and Anthony Contrera were killed in 1960 as they tried to clean up a gas leak at a gas station when a spark caused the building to explode. The explosion, which is considered to be the worst catastrophe in Auburn's history, also killed two civilians.

Patrick LaGambino was the last Auburn firefighter killed in action. LaGambino was attempting to escape from a burning house in 1973, when his oxygen-tank got stuck in the window and knocked him back into the building.

"A lot of [firefighters] have children," said Dorthy Palmer, who attended the event. "This is just a reminder that when they leave they don't always come back."

For the full report, read Tuesday's edition of The Citizen.