By Reid Forgrave
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DOWNTOWN - A year to the minute after Engine Company 9 was dispatched to a kitchen fire in Bond Hill, firefighters throughout the city paused to remember the 25-year-old firefighter whose life was lost that day in a flashover.

Cincinnati Firefighter Elton Britton snuggles up to seven-month-old Imani Armstrong. She is the daughter of Oscar Armstrong III. She was not born when her father was killed in action a year ago. (Michael E. Keating photo)

At 8:45 a.m. Sunday, 100 firefighters gathered at the Firefighters' Memorial downtown and paid respects to Oscar Armstrong III, the first firefighter to die in a fire in Cincinnati in 22 years.

At fire stations all over the city, fire personnel simultaneously pulled their fire trucks outside their stations, switched on their emergency lights and listened to the Firefighter's Prayer on Fire Channel 3.

Armstrong's fiance, Sakina Devereaux, held Armstrong's 7-month-old baby daughter, Imani. His two sons - Isaiah and Oscar IV - stood nearby.

Firefighters in their dress blues listened to the prayer - "When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage. Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age" - then saluted after Fire Chief Robert Wright laid down a wreath.

"It still hurts," Wright said afterward as firefighters scattered into the frigid morning. "We spend one-third of our lives with each other, eat and sleep and socialize with each other for 24 hours at a stretch, and we have to put our lives on the line for each other. It's like an extended family."

Colleagues of Armstrong's said they were forever changed by his death.

They remembered him as a jokester and a man who never shied away from discussing the Bible. Elton Britton, a close friend of Armstrong's at Engine 9, said they had their own version of Gilligan's Island. Britton was Gilligan, Armstrong the professor.

"I can't believe I could ever miss somebody every day when that person's not my blood," said Britton, 29. "He was like a younger brother to me. He touched every portion of my life. It just makes you appreciate every day you have with your family that much more."

Firefighters say tragedies like Armstrong's death make them more alert.

"These tragedies help you be a better firefighter," said Ron Bracey, also of Engine 9. "It makes you more aware, more concerned about your colleagues."

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E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com