Arkansas firefighters honored at National Memorial in Maryland
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Two Arkansas firefighters are among 140 being honored this weekend at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Phil Christensen, who served the Fort Smith community, was named Firefighter of the Year in 2000 and received several other recognitions throughout his career. He died on February 11, 2023, after a nine-year battle with brain cancer.
'His career was distinguished by bravery and leadership…' Christensen's memorial entry on firehero.org reads. 'As the most decorated firefighter in the history of the Fort Smith Fire Department, his achievements spoke to his unwavering commitment to his profession and the community he served.'
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Jim McCammon, who spent nearly 30 years in intermittent service with the Harrison Fire Department, also played a role in creating the town's fire code enforcement division. He died in 2019 at the age of 64.
McCammon's memorial entry reads, 'A friend once said, 'If you needed a man covering your back, this was the man.'
The annual memorial event recognizes firefighters from across the United States who have died in the line of duty or due to duty-related causes.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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