Greenfield Fire Territory officials are asking community members to take part in Light the Night event Oct. 2 through Oct. 9.
GREENFIELD — If all goes according to plans, local residents will see a lot more red lights glowing in the night in early October.
Once a year, officials with fire departments, fire service organizations, and communities participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters event. The annual happening sponsored by the National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation is set each year between Sunday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 9 to pay tribute to fallen firefighters by shinning red lights in the night.
According to firehero.org, the Foundation created Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters in 2017 to recognize the 25th anniversary of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Since then, Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters has expanded to include fire departments and families lighting their homes in red.
“This isn’t just a Greenfield thing or an Indiana thing, it’s a national deal,” GFT Public Relations Officer Corey Breese said.
Greenfield Fire Territory officials took part in the memorial weekend several years ago when Firefighter Scott A. Compton, 55, of the Greenfield Fire Territory, died on Nov. 11, 2017. He passed away after fighting a three-alarm commercial structure fire.
The City of Greenfield officials participated in the event last year when the folks at the water department changed the lights on the water tower from white to red. They plan to do the same thing this year as do officials with the GFT and Greenfield Police Department.
“County officials even changed the light in the courthouse tower to red last year, and they left it red for a while,” Breese said.
Greenfield fire officials are trying to spread the word so more community members know what is going on and will take part in the week-long Light up the Night red event.
“We really want people to participate and understand it and realize what it’s all for,” Breese said. “This really is a big deal.”
Greenfield Fire Territory Fire Marshall Steve Kropacek helped spread the word about the event last year and is doing so again this year with the hopes more people will help turn the nights red in early October.
“A lot of folks in our community don’t even know we’ve had line-of-duty-related deaths with firefighters here,” Kropacek said. “Green Township Fire Department had one and, unless you were in the fire service, no one really knew and then of course had our own with Scott Compton.”
Kropacek noted it’s important for local officials to make sure the local firefighters who have passed away while on duty are remembered.
“Really this is for all the fire fighters who have sacrificed while on the line of duty,” Kropacek said. “We don’t ever want to forget those sacrifices that they made for us and the community.”
Kropacek drove around last year and looked for red lights. He hopes to see a lot more starting Oct. 2.
“It really does make you feel good to know people have taken the time out to participate and think about those who have passed away,” Kropacek said.
Plus, seeing the red lights at night during the week-long event helps current firefighters know they are appreciated for the long hours, working holidays and weekends as well as putting their lives on the line.
“Seeing the red lights at night, it’s a morale booster for the guys,” Breese said. “When someone takes the time to change out a light bulb for this, it means they’re thinking about you and the work you do and we appreciate that.”
