Aristes Fire, Station 350

Ray was an active Fire Police officer with our company for many years. While assisting with our monthly breakfast, Ray suffered a serious medical emergency. He was treated by company members while awaiting the arrival of EMS including CPR. BLS arrived and transport to the Ashland Regional Medical Center was initiated with member from the station remaining onboard to provide care. Shortly after leaving going enroute, BLS interfaced with ALS. Shortly after arrival at the ARMC ER, Ray was pronounced. He left behind a wife and several children and many grandchildren. Ray was laid to rest in the Zion Cemetary in Aristes with full fire department honors. This resulted in what our company has deemed its first and hopefully only Line of Duty Death (LODD). The Raymond Rishel Memorial AED Fund was started as a result of this and an AED was purchased for on the apparatus for use with patients on scene or if ever needed for a similar event involving a member.

Preach was the company President at the time of his death. This was a position he had held for many years. He had also served as a former Trustee, Head Trustee, Fire Police Captain and Fire Chief. Preach left behind his wife, 6 children, numerous grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren. He was one of the original re-organizers of the company and one of the last of them to still be a member and the last to still be active. He got to see a lot of changes during his time at the firehouse. Everything from the delivery of the quonset hut that was once our home to the new truck room (which he helped build), new social hall and all the way up to our first ever brand new truck. It was a great experience for him and all of the members for him to get to ride on our new KME at the housing in May. He was laid to rest at the Zion Cemetery in Aristes after getting his last ride on the "New Truck" to his final resting place here on earth.