Community remembers Ritchie

WEIRTON - Firefighters from up and down the Ohio Valley, along with police officers and other emergency responders came together with the friends and family of Brian Ritchie Wednesday night to remember the life of a man who dedicated himself to helping others.

Fire trucks lined Municipal Plaza in the city's downtown, while a crowd gathered for a candlelight memorial. Ritchie, who was a 13-year member of the Weirton Fire Department, holding the rank of lieutenant, as well as an assistant chief with the Hooverson Heights Volunteer Fire Department, died Tuesday following a lengthy battle with COVID-19 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Jim Brueck, president of the Weirton IAFF Local 948, offered thanks to the West Virginia State Police, Morgantown Fire Department, Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty and others who were involved in escorting Ritchie back to Weirton Wednesday morning.

In addition to his years with the Weirton and Hooverson Heights departments, Ritchie was a Gulf War veteran and also spent time as a firefighter in Brilliant, Ohio.

"Brian is no stranger to service," Brueck said, calling Ritchie "one of a kind."

Weirton Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick said emergency services was Ritchie's life, and, noting a medical helicopter which landed in nearby Edwin J. Bowman Field as the service was starting, the chief said Ritchie would have approved of the unplanned interruption.

"He would have loved it," he said.

Weirton Mayor Harold Miller recalled a night, shortly before Christmas, where he was leaving the city building and felt an urge to stop at the fire headquarters station. There, he found Ritchie, along with Himmelrick, teaching some of the younger members of the city department. He noted the time spent talking, and joking, with Ritchie.

"He loved both of his communities," Miller said. "He loved being a fireman."

Miller explained Ritchie had been among those interviewed last year when the city was searching for a new fire chief.

Comments also were offered from Tracy Lemley, 911 director for Hancock County, and Bishop Craig Greathouse, along with a musical selection on bagpipes and the recitation of the Fireman's Prayer.

Flags in the city and Brooke County had been ordered to half-staff in Ritchie's memory.