On March 4, 2024 Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad participated in the Celebration of Life for Sterling Volunteer Fire Company (SVFC) Firefighter Trevor Brown. Trevor died in the line of duty on February 16, 2024, while investigating the report of gas leak that resulted in a catastrophic explosion, as the firefighters began their investigation. Firefighter Brown is survived by his wife, and three children, aged 6, 9 and 11.
The Celebration of Life drew over 3,000 personnel to the Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA. Speakers included The Honorable Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System Chief Keith Johnson, SVFC Fire Chief David Short, and Thomas Brown, Trevor’s Father. Participants included fire, rescue and law enforcement organizations from throughout Virginia and Maryland.
Sterling Rescue offers its deepest condolences and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Trevor Brown. Our condolences also go out to members of our sister organization, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company. We are a family of brothers and sisters in volunteer service, and a loss for one is a loss for all. Our feelings are well described by a poem that Chief Short read during the service, at the request of Firefighter Brown’s children and godchildren:
The day you left and gained your wings,
My heart just broke in two.
I wish you could have stayed,
But Heaven needed you.
A link to Trevor Brown’s Celebration of Life Ceremony is here- Trevor Brown Celebration of Life
We also wish a full and speedy recovery to all the members of Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR), and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue who were injured in the incident, especially Brian Diamond, who remains hospitalized in the MedStar Washington Burn Unit. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad are very appreciative of the outpouring of public support and sentiment that has been shared at our Sterling stations.
Donations: The Loudoun County community (and beyond) has generously offered support through a multitude of donations. To coordinate those efforts, several pathways have been established:
Monetary donations may be made through our non-profit partner, the Loudoun First Responders Foundation, at www.LoudounFRF.org. The Loudoun First Responders Foundation serves Loudoun County by providing immediate financial support to active first responder personnel in their time of need. To designate a donation specifically to the family of Firefighter Trevor Brown, please add “Brown Family” in memo line; if not specified, donations will benefit the injured firefighters who either have been or remain hospitalized.
Condolences: We have received a number of inquiries from individuals who would like to express heartfelt condolences to the family of firefighter Brown and encouragement to the injured members of LC-CFRS. If you, or a member of the community, would like to express sympathy to the Brown family and our injured system members, please email LCCFRScondolences@loudoun.gov. These messages will be shared with our first responders and families.
