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Firefighters Honoring Fallen Brother With 24-hour Vigil

Associated Press0

BRANDON, S.D. (AP) — Volunteer firefighters are keeping a 24-hour vigil outside the funeral home handling the remains of a Valley Springs fireman who died in the line of duty.

Firefighters will take turns standing watch until weekend services for 38-year-old Steven Ackerman.

Ackerman died Sunday while fighting a house fire in Brandon that also killed 47-year-old homeowner David Smith. Ackerman is the 43rd firefighter to die in the line of duty in South Dakota since 1924, and the 22nd volunteer firefighter to be killed.

Valley Springs volunteer firefighter Rick Mitchell tells KELO-TV that the vigil outside the Sioux Falls funeral home is “about our brother.”

Ackerman’s funeral is 2 p.m. Sunday at the Brandon Valley High School gymnasium. Gov. Dennis Daugaard has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff Sunday to honor him.

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