As it happened: Firefighter, homeowner killed in Brandon fire

At a glance:

• A fatal house fire claimed the lives of a homeowner and a volunteer firefighter.
• The fire was reported just after 10 p.m. Sunday at 109 W. Fir St. in Brandon.
• The homeowner was identified as David Smith, 47. The firefighter was Steven Ackerman, 38, a volunteer with Valley Springs Fire & Rescue.

Family, friends and firefighters are in mourning following a fatal house fire that claimed the lives of a homeowner and volunteer firefighter Sunday night in Brandon.

The fire was reported at 10:08 p.m. at 109 W. Fir St.

Brandon Fire Chief Gary Lembcke identified the victims as 47-year-old David Smith, who lived in the house, and Steven Ackerman, 38, a volunteer with Valley Springs Fire & Rescue.

Brandon Police were the first to arrive at the scene, according to Brandon Police Chief Dave Kull. By 10:10 p.m., heavy smoke was coming from the garage.

Smith was taken from the house about 10:35 p.m. and transported to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where he was declared dead.

Two other people were reportedly in the home at the time the fire started. Kull said Smith's daughter heard the smoke alarms and went to get help from a neighbor, who called 911.

About 10:40 p.m., firefighters were ordered to evacuate the home because of deteriorating conditions. About 20 minutes later, all of the firefighters were accounted for except for Ackerman.

"We switched over to a rescue effort for one of our own. In an instant, it changed our operation," Lembcke said.

Firefighters found the missing firefighter's body in the basement of the home about 1:30 a.m. Monday.

After working to stabilize the structure, Ackerman's body was transferred into an ambulance about 10:30 a.m. Monday. A procession of police and fire department vehicles, led by Valley Springs Fire & Rescue, escorted the ambulance to the coroner's office in Sioux Falls.

"He will receive all the honors of a firefighter funeral," Lembcke said.

Ackerman is the 43rd firefighter to be killed in South Dakota since 1924. He is the 22nd volunteer firefighter to be killed in the line of duty, according to the South Dakota Firefighters Association.

The ATF, DCI and the Fire Marshal's Office are investigating.

SHINE A LIGHT April 19: The Last Alarm nonprofit has asked everyone to keep their porch lights on at their home on April 19 in honor of Ackerman.

Previously:

Noon: Valley Springs volunteer firefighter Steven Ackerman was the 43rd firefighter since 1924 to be killed in South Dakota. He is the 22nd volunteer firefighter to be killed in the line of duty, according to information for the South Dakota Firefighters Association.

Update 10:40 a.m.: Authorities identified the firefighter killed in a Brandon house fire as Steven Ackerman, 38, a volunteer with Valley Springs Fire & Rescue. "He will receive all the honors of a firefighter funeral," Brandon Fire Chief Gary Lembcke said. The ATF, DCI and the Fire Marshal's Office is investigating, Lembcke said. Ackerman went missing after the homeowner was removed from the house and an evacuation was ordered because of deteriorating conditions. "We switched over to a rescue effort for one of our own. In an instant it changed our operation," Lembcke said.

Update 10:35 am: The body of a fallen firefighter has been removed from the scene of Sunday night's fatal house fire in Brandon. Family and friends gathered at the scene just before 10:30 a.m. as first responders transferred the firefighter's body to an ambulance. A procession of police and fire department vehicles led by Valley Springs Fire & Rescue is escorting the ambulance to the coroner's office in Sioux Falls.

Update 9:55 a.m.: Tea Fire Chief Jeff Stahlecker received word of the loss of a fellow volunteer firefighter by phone. Several volunteer firefighters from other departments told him the news Monday morning. Stahlecker was shocked. He said it's rare to hear about the loss of a volunteer firefighter because they aren't dealing with the huge blazes departments in larger cities fight. "We leave our families to go help our other family and when something like this happens it's never good," Stahlecker said. "I feel really sorry for the family and volunteer firefighters, it's tough losing a brother."

Update 9:05 a.m.: Brandon Police Chief Dave Kull said it appears the fire started in the basement. They think the homeowner's daughter was in the house at the time the fire started. She heard the smoke alarm and went to get help from a neighbor, who called 911. Authorities are working to stabilize the structure and determine the cause, Kull said. The body of the firefighter who died is still inside, he said. They expect to release his name later today.

REACTION

The Valley Springs Fire & Rescue department posted this statement on their Facebook page:

"With much sorrow and a heavy heart, Valley Springs Fire & Rescue has lost one of our beloved firefighters last night, while assisting Brandon Fire Department with a structure fire in Brandon. Our hearts and prayers are with our brother firefighter, the homeowner and their families."

The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Department tweeted: "Our prayers go out to the family of the brave Valley Springs volunteer firefighter who lost his life last night."

Correction: The Brandon Police Department was the first to arrive at the scene. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the first department to arrive.

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