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Mark Allen Wunch

Lieutenant

On May 13th, 1990 the Lake Shore Fire Department received an emergency water rescue call at the Walnut Creek Access area in Fairview Township (Lake Erie). Upon arrival it was determined that there were two fishermen in the water. The first fisherman swam towards the shore and was assisted out by the fire department. The Fish Commission had a boat in the area and picked up several members of the Fire Department to rescue the 2nd fisherman. As the boat headed towards the channel, they encountered very rough waves. Ultimately the boat was capsized. All rescuers survived except for Lieutenant Wunch.
photo of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Mark Allen Wunch was honored on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Department information

Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department
Erie, Pennsylvania

Age: 31
Rank: Lieutenant
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: May 13, 1990 10:08
Date of death: May 13, 1990
Cause of death: Exposure
Nature of death: Drowning
Activity type: Search and Rescue
Emergency duty: No
Duty type: On-Scene Non-Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property

Last updated: March 27, 2018

Watch America’s Tribute to Fallen Firefighters

Honoring line-of-duty deaths in 2019