RALEIGH -- City firefighter Lt. Harry P. "Flip" Kissinger was a big, strong, handsome guy who made the job fun, his co-workers said.
"He was something of a prankster, a jokester. On this job you are exposed to a lot of tragedy," said W. Rusty Styons, the Raleigh Fire Department's fire marshal. "Back at the station Flip was one of those people who could make you laugh after a long, tough call."
But there was no laughter to lift the somber mood among the city's fire ranks Friday after WakeMed hospital officials announced that Kissinger, a veteran firefighter and married father of two young daughters, had died.
WakeMed officials pronounced Kissinger dead at about 11 a.m., from injuries suffered in a vehicle crash on his way home from work a week ago, Styons said.
The city's fire chiefs and commanders met briefly at the downtown station Friday afternoon upon learning that Kissinger had died, according to Denise Smith, a fire department spokeswoman. "Everyone was pulling for him," she said
"I knew him very well. He was something special," said Styons. "This is a special job with a lot of special people, but he was a standout guy."
Kissinger joined the department Oct. 27, 1996. He was critically injured Dec. 4 when a Wake County school bus, driven by Sheila Hall of Garner, crossed the center line and struck two vehicles in the opposite lane, including Kissinger's Dodge truck.
The fire commander was pinned in his truck about 45 minutes as his fellow firefighters cut the top off to free him. He suffered multiple injuries, including severe head trauma.
The Wake County District Attorney's Office will review charges expected to be filed against Hall, said Sgt. J.E. Brewer, a Highway Patrol spokesman.
Kissinger was assigned to Fire Station Six on Fairview Road, where he supervised four other firefighters, Styons said. He had qualified for the department's captain's test and was scheduled to take it next week, he said.
"This is a wonderful job, and for the most part, we are an upbeat group. But that's certainly not the case with this," Styons said. "How do you fix the unfixable? ... We are men and women of action. But this time no action can be taken. We have to draw on the memories and recall the time we shared together."
"On behalf of Flip's wife, Jill, his two beautiful young daughters, and the entire Kissinger family, we want to thank those who have expressed their love and support during this difficult time," a fire department news release stated on Friday. "The Kissingers and the Raleigh Fire Department have been blessed with numerous offers of assistance from concerned friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers, and we are very grateful."
Plans for Kissinger's memorial service are incomplete, but the firefighter's family has requested a fire department funeral, with an honor guard and a firetruck to lead the funeral procession, Styons said.
