Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Firefighter Vista S. Lowe
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 10, 2014
1. Firefighter Vista S. Lowe Marker
Inscription.
Firefighter Vista S. Lowe. . At this site on September 30, 1962, Firefighter Vista Spencer Lowe, age 23, died in the line of duty while responding to a house fire at 409 East Zarragossa Street. Upon arrival at the scene, Firefighter Lowe stepped from the rear tailboard of the pumper he was riding (Engine 5, a 1957, 1,000-gallon Seagrave Pumper Truck), tripped and fell to the ground. Unaware of Lowe’s location, the pumper’s driver began backing his truck, trapping Lowe under the truck and crushing him. Lowe was the third firefighter with the Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) and the 33rd Florida firefighter to lose his life in the line of duty. Lowe’s death caused the PFD to change its rules and regulations governing standard operating procedures and training methods, requiring that no fire apparatus be backed up at any time without a department member directing traffic. As a result of these changes, no firefighter with the PFD has since died in the manner in which Firefighter Lowe lost his life in 1962.
At this site on September 30, 1962, Firefighter Vista Spencer Lowe, age 23, died in the line of duty while responding to a house fire at 409 East Zarragossa Street. Upon arrival at the scene, Firefighter Lowe stepped from the rear tailboard of the pumper he was riding (Engine 5, a 1957, 1,000-gallon Seagrave Pumper Truck), tripped and fell to the ground. Unaware of Lowe’s location, the pumper’s driver began backing his truck, trapping Lowe under the truck and crushing him. Lowe was the third firefighter with the Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) and the 33rd Florida firefighter to lose his life in the line of duty. Lowe’s death caused the PFD to change its rules and regulations governing standard operating procedures and training methods, requiring that no fire apparatus be backed up at any time without a department member directing traffic. As a result of these changes, no firefighter with the PFD has since died in the manner in which Firefighter Lowe lost his life in 1962.
Erected 2012 by Sons Matthew D. and Mark D. Lowe and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-733.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1846.
Location. 30° 24.552′ N, 87° 12.56′ W. Marker is
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in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. Marker is at the intersection of East Zarragossa Street and South Alcaniz Street, on the left when traveling east on East Zarragossa Street. Located at southeast corner of Seville Square park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 East Zarragossa Street, Pensacola FL 32502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 961 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
