Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association

CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH: While responding to a call, the apparatus Firefighter Balcer was riding on overturned as the driver was turning onto Hog Neck Road. Firefighter Balcer was riding on the rear of the apparatus and was flung underneath as it overturned. Firefighter Balcer’s death was very similar to James Barton’s death in 1932 – same station, almost same location.

BURIAL LOCATION: Glen Haven Cemetery – 7215 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (Anne Arundel County ADC map 3-b-13). Gargen of the Apostles, right side approaching office, just before bushes of Apostle Memorial, near tree.

Notes: Articles – In Memoriam
Baltimore Sun April 10, 1970
Baltimore Sun April 13, 1970

Died in Line of Duty, April 9, 1970

                                     O GOD, SUPREME LORD OF THE UNIVERSE and all of mankind,
                             Who disposes all things in accord with Thy Divine Plan, heed our
                             suppliant prayers to You.

                    You have called forth from this world the soul of our fellow
              Firefighter. May Your justice and mercy be extended to him in
              judgment so he may enjoy rest and peace and happiness with you
             forever.

                   May Your tender compassion be granted to us and to all his
             loved ones who mourn his passing from this life. Bestow on us Your
            Spirit and blessings in order that we may earn the right to be rejoined
            with him in possessing Your forever in Your Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Truck flips, kills fireman

A county fire truck, rushing to a blaze in Pasadena, skidded and turned over at the intersection of Ft. Smallwood Rd and Hog’s Neck Rd. in Riviera Beach late Thursday morning , killing on county fireman and injuring four others.

Pronounced dead at North Arundel Hospital was John Balcer, 22, of 7856 E. Bruton Dr., Glen Burnie.

Admitted to the hospital with a broken leg was Joseph E. Sank, 47 of Riviera Beach.
Michael O’Conner, 21 of Riviera Beach; David McDevitt, 18, of Riviera Beach; and Charles Wareheim, Jr., 27, of Glen Burnie, were treated at the North Arundel Hospital emergency room and released.

    The fire department said that Engine 132, a pumper truck driven by Wareheim, was traveling east on Ft. Smallwood Rd. and turned over when it skidded on some gravel and went into the shoulder while attempting to make a turn onto Hog’s Neck Rd.
    Fire department investigators have not yet determined how fast the truck was moving.
    The firemen were responding to a house fire at 400 Woods Rd. in Pasadena when the accident occurred shortly after 11:35 a.m.

The men, members of Company 13 in Riviera Beach, were backup crew for another company which was on the scene fighting the blaze at the time of the accident.

    The fire did damage estimated at $3,000 to a front room of the home. No one was injured in the blaze which took firemen two and one-half hours to quell.
    The cause of the fire is under investigation.
    Balcer was sitting in the “jump seat,” a rear seat inside the cab behind the driver, when he was killed.
    Balcer was a paid fireman who had been with the department since Feb. 9, 1968. He was married and the father of two children.

He first worked for the department in the alarm room. He went to fire school this past summer to become a firefighter and graduated in August.

A fireman in the communications room said Thursday that Balcer had transferred out of communications because “he wanted to be a firefighter on the trucks.”

On Thursday, 9 April 1970, at 1132 hours, an alarm of fire in a dwelling on Woods Road, Pasadena, Maryland was dispatched by the Anne Arundel County Communications Division to Companies 20 (Lake Shore V.F.D.), 13 (Riviera Beach V.F.D.), 12 (Earleigh Heights V.F.D.), and 14 (Green Haven V.F.D.). All four companies acknowledged the dispatch and responded their respective Engines. The crew on Engine 132 consisted of Deputy Chief Joseph E. Sank, Officer-in-charge, Engineman Charles W. Wareheim, Jr. Driver, Firefighter John F. Balcer, riding in left side jump seat, Firefighter Michael J. O’Conner, riding in right side jump seat, and David R. McDevitt, riding on the tailboard. Engine 132 was proceeding West on Fort Smallwood Road (Rt. 173) and approaching Hogneck Road (Rt. 607) a right hand turn, which Engineman Wareheim had negotiated numberous time while enroute to emergencies in the Woods Road area before.

Upon entering the turn Engineman Wareheim, Jr. found himself to be sliding on loose gravel, which was laying on the traveled portion of the roadway. The Engine, while still sliding, then began to raise upward on its left side and Engineman Wareheim, Jr. could no longer attempt to control the Engine.

The Engine continued to raise and then came down on the left side and then on the top where it came to rest. Engineman Wareheim, Jr. bruised and cut, then crawled out of the cab and began calling for his companions. He found Deputy Chief Sank with his leg pinned under the windshield frame. He then found Firefighter McDevitt clear of the Engine, with a broken leg. He then called for Balcer and O’Connor. O’Conner was crawling out of the jump seat area, shaken up and bruised, but okay, he then called again for Balcer, and received no answer. Engineman Wareheim and Firefighter O’Connor the went to the other side of the Engine, where they found Firefighter Balcer, trapped hopelessly beneath the Engine. The two men tried to free Balcer, but could not do so. By this time, ambulances and Rescue Unites were on the scene and were taking care of the injured. Ambulances then treated and transported all of the Firemen to North Arundel Hospital, where Dr. Elmer Lindhardt pronounced Firefighter Balcer dead on arrival. Deputy Chief Sank was admitted to the hospital with a compound fracture to his leg. Firefighter McDevitt’s leg was also broken. Enginemena Wareheim, Jr. and Firefighter O’Connor were treated and released.

On Monday, 13 April 1970 a full dress firedepartment Funeral was held for Firefighter Balcer, whose internment was at the Glen Haven Cemetery, Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Firefighter Balcer, age 22, is survived by his wife Dorothy, and two children Donald J. and Tania Marie.

Firefighter Balcer had been employed with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department since February 1968, working in the Communications Division until November 1969, when he transferred to the Fire Suppression Division and was assigned to Company 13 (Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company) as a Firefighter.

A Memorial Fund has been established in memory of Firefighter Balcer and contributions may be made to The John F. Balcer Memorial Fund in care of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Millersville, Maryland 21108.

A Riviera Beach volunteer fireman was killed yesterday when a fire engine overturned and fell on top of him o the way to a minor house fire in Lake Shore, Anne Arundel County.

John F. Balcer, 22, of Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Department, was killed instantly when the truck hit a gravel patch while making a 90-degree turn and overturned, fire officials said.

Four other firemen were injured slightly and taken to North Arundel General Hospital.

Chief Edwin Utz of the Riviera Division said the truck was turning right onto Hogneck Road from Fort Smallwood Road about 11:32 A.M. Mr. Balcer, who was riding in the rear of the engine, was flung under the truck as it tipped over on its side.

Treated at North Arundel General Hospital were: Joseph E. Sank, 47, assistant chief, received a fractured right lig; Charles Wareheim, Jr. 27, the driver, who complained of a leg injury; Michael O’Connor, 21 who complained of a back injury, and David McDevitt, 18, who was treated for a leg injury.

The truck was one of four companies heading for a fire at the one-story house of William Oches in the 400 block Woods Road. The three other companies put out the fire, which caused about $3,000 damage. There were no injuries.

BALCER MASS IS SET TODAY

A requiem mass for John F. Balcer, an Anne Arundel County firefighter, will be offered at 10 A.M. today at St. John’s Church, Ritchie Highway and Cypress Creek Road.

Mr. Balcer, who was 22, died Thursday when a fire engine on which he was riding overturned and fell on top of him.

Born in Baltimore, he attended Pasadena Elementary School and Severna Park High School before enlisting in the Army. He served in the active Army for eight months before being assigned to the Army reserve.

“He had never been happy about any job he had until he joined the fire department, but after he joined, he was the most happy person you’d ever want to see,’ his wife said yesterday.

He worked as a fire alarm operator from the time he joined the department until November 1969 at the Anne Arundel County Fire Department headquarters in Millersville.

He trained as a firefighter from November, 1969 until this January and had been in the field as a firefighter since January. He was to start pump school later this month to learn to operate a pump.

Survivors include his wife, the former Dorothy Saia, a son, Donald Je. Balcer, and a daughter, Tania Marie Balcer, of Glen Burnie; and his parents; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Balcer, of Severna Park.

Suddenly, on April 9, 1970, JOHN F., of Glen Burnie, beloved husband of Dorothy Saia Balcer, devoted father of Donald J. and Tania Marie Balcer, loving son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Balcer, grandson of Mrs. Veronica Balcer.

Services will be held on Monady at 9:15 A.M. from the Severna Park Funeral Home of Robert S. Barranco, Rithie Highway at Macey’s Corner followed by a requiem mass in St. John’s Church at 10 A.M. Internment in Glen Haven Memorial Park. Visiting hours 3 to 5 and 7 to 9P.M. Contributions may be made to the John F. Balcer Memorial Fund in Care of the A.A. County Fire Department, Millersville, MD.

The Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters Local No. 1563 regret the passing of brother JOHN F. BALCER, who was killed in the line of duty, and wish to express their deepest regrets to the member of his family

HAROLD E. GEIS, JR.
President

Sir:
Recently I lost a friend, and the people of Anne Arundel County lost a truly dedicated young man. Firefighter John Balcer lost his life in the line of duty, his death ended all too short the career of a Professional Firefighter.

He left behind a tragically young widow and two fatherless infant children. He also brought to light the realization of the fact “There are more Firefighters killed in the line of duty each year than Police Officers,” and “It can happen to you or me.”

In short, John showed the true meaning of Professional Fire Fighting. Fifty-two weeks a year, seven days a week, we the people of Anne Arundel County ask these men to lay their lives on the line, and for what? For as little as $80.00 a week.

How can we justify such an unbelievable low salary for such a high risk profession. Fire fighting is the second most hazardous occupation in this country. It seems inconceivable that any intelligent, qualified young man would be willing to risk his life in this occupation in our country for this salary.

The fact John and many others like him have dedicated their lives to saving our lives and property is although, a truly great tribute to them, it is also a truly great shame on all of us.

Due to his refusal to raise the county property tax above $3.00 our County Executive has earned the nickname of $3.00 Joe. This act is one of the main reasons for the low salaries for Firefighters.

If we the people of Anne Arundel County do not wake up and start taking a good look at our county budget in terms of fire and police appropriations in order to put them in line and on a competitive basis with our sister counties, we may one day look around us and find that there are no more $80. A week dedicated men to lay down their lives for us.