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News / Northwest

Trio of Tacoma heroes help at air show tragedy

The Columbian
Published: September 30, 2011, 5:00pm

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Three Tacoma firefighters went to September’s Reno Air Races to revel in aviation’s living history.

Instead, they battled death on the tarmac.

Former Army paratrooper Jeff Wyrwitzke has been with Tacoma Fire Department for 16 years, 13 of them as a firefighter paramedic. He’s been going to the Reno Air Races at Stead Field since 2000, and bringing friends to the front row box seats he’s had since 2002.

The News Tribune (http://bit.ly/pbE1OJ ) reports their box, A-17, is close to heaven for fans of airshows and races.

When a plane crashed at the show this year, it hit just 70 yards from Wyrwitzke’s box seats.

When the announcer asked for people with medical skills to come up, the three Tacoma firefighters sprinted toward the crash.

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Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com

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