Fire Stations from neighboring counties and nearly one hundred people gathered to pay their respects at a new memorial in Mattoon. Fifty years ago today two Mattoon Fire Stations responded to a grass fire. Fire officials say on the way to the scene two fire trucks collided at the corner of 15th and Broadway leaving three injured and one dead. Officials say Robert DeMars was only thirty-four and was married with three children when he passed. Fred Decker was a firefighter with DeMars in the 60s and says he was honored to have worked with him. "He was a great guy to be with. He was fun and everything was funny to him. He was a good family man. He was a Christian. He was a wonderful person to work with." Decker said. Mattoon Firefighter Bart Owen says,"We've had memorials in the past on the anniversary date and stuff but we've never dedicated a plaque. I think it means a lot to have it memorialized like this so everybody knows when you walk by here and the kids in the future they'll understand." Owen says the firefighter union and the city matched funds to provide the plaque. The memorial is located at crash site at the corner of 15th and Broadway Avenue in Mattoon.
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