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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Beth Young said her son, Logan, told her on Christmas Day 2020 that he and her fiance are expecting a child. Two days later he died responding to a structural fire in the East Panhandle.
“He had a shirt made,” Young said. “I turned it over and it said ‘Grandma 21’ on the back. Then 36 hours later, I got a call from Logan’s dad that he was in the hospital. I never got to talk to him after Christmas night.
Logan Young, 30, worked as a firefighter for the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard. He was one of six deceased firefighters honored Sunday at an annual ceremony at the West Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in Charleston.
Her mother, dressed in a red shirt with a photo of Logan’s face on it, choked back tears as she and Logan’s aunt laid a bouquet of flowers on the firefighter statue that now bears his name.
“We are so proud of him. He gave his life, “she said.” He’s our hero.
Young was fatally injured on December 27, 2020 during a mutual aid call for a structural fire. Investigators believe two fires were intentionally started. Both fires occurred on Charles Town Road in Kearneysville. The first happened around 1:30 a.m. The second erupted around 2 a.m.
Young was fighting the second fire, but never made it home.
“It was a barn fire and the structure collapsed. Part of the barn fell on him. He did not succeed, ”she said.
In the months following Young’s death, his fiancee gave birth to their daughter in June. Beth Young told MetroNews she was able to cope with her tragic loss, in part because she now had a beautiful granddaughter.
“She is our strength. She has no idea at the early childhood age, she is what she does for all of us, for our whole family. We wouldn’t be able to do it without it, ”she said.
Young said she was still beside herself knowing that her son had traveled abroad, including missions to Japan and Syria, and was still coming home. Seeing his name on the statue of the dead firefighters reminds him of the “hero” he really was.
“Some days I don’t have any strength,” she said. “My oldest son or Logan’s dad, who’s the strongest that day, is going to pull everyone through.
State fire marshals reported the two fires in Kearneysville as arson. They are still working to find a suspect. There is a reward of $ 23,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Young’s death.
Young’s family hope to receive answers soon.
“There is someone who lives his life who took my son, who took a baby who will never know a father, took someone’s fiancé, someone’s brother and cousin. It’s not fair, ”she said.
Sunday’s ceremony honored the names of the deceased firefighters below. The event included a wreath placement, a bell ringing, the firefighter’s prayer reading, the game of Taps and remarks from the West Virginia firefighters.
FF Hunter R. Markle, South Berkeley VFC, March 25, 1975
FF James W. Ward, Logan FD, May 10, 2019
FF Mark E. Horwich, VFD Clover-Roane, January 11, 2020
FF Russell K. Roberson, Iaeger VFD, June 21, 2020
SA / FF Logan A. Young, WV THE FD, December 27, 2020
Captain Charles W. Miller, Jr., Albright VFD, 2021
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