27-04-2025
Firefighter Benji Barksdale, who started at Spelter Volunteer Fire Department, passes away
SPELTER, (WBOY) — Benji Barksdale, who started his fire service career in West Virginia and served during the Sept. 11th attacks as Battalion Chief at the Pentagon, has passed away according to a Facebook post by the Spelter Volunteer Fire Department.
According to the post, the department learned of Barksdale's passing on Saturday, April 26.
Barksdale began his fire service career with the Spelter Fire Department, serving for seven years. He would go on to serve as Assistant Fire Chief with Arlington Fire Department in VA, Chief of Prince George County Maryland and Chief of Orlando Fire Department in Florida.
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Barksdale would also serve as the Battalion Chief at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, in which he pulled a 48 straight hour shift according to the Spelter VFD. He was also the winner of the 2001 National Firefighter Combat Challenge, where he set a world record time of one minute and 34 seconds. The record would not be broken for four years.
'Spelter FD along with all of your mutual aid brothers want to thank you and salute you,' the department wrote. 'Rest easy friend and job well done.'
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