Name of Hero: Mike “Chip” Chiapperini, Tomasz Kaczowka, Ted Scardino, and Joe Hofstetter

Hero City: Webster, NY

Submitted by: Nicki Ditch

On Christmas Eve of 2012, the West Webster Fire District was called to the scene of a car fire with exposure to the home.

Firefighter Joe Hofstetter responded to the scene in his personal vehicle. Firefighters Mike “Chip” Chiapperini and Ted Scardino arrived to the scene in the first-due fire truck and Firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka arrived in a squad car. These four volunteer firefighters answered a call to duty on Christmas Eve and all four were shot when they arrived on scene by a man who intentionally set the fire then laid in wait behind an earthen berm.

Ted and Joe were seriously wounded and Chip and Tomasz were killed, paying the ultimate sacrifice. A year later, the community is still deeply mourning our tragic loss of our brothers Chip and Tomasz and are so thankful for Ted and Joe’s recovery. Thank you so much for this beautiful song and video that portrays the heroic work emergency first responders do. May God richly bless you.