HOUGHTON – Michigan House of Representatives honored recently fallen Beartown firefighters James Shelifoe, Jr. and Alan Swartz Thursday at the house’s annual Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony honoring those lost in 2001 and recognizing first responders serving in Michigan communities today.

Chris Swartz was Dianda’s guest at the ceremony where Dianda spoke in honor of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Beartown Firefighters Alan Swartz and James Shelifoe Jr., who died in an auto accident on their way to help fight the Box Canyon Fire in Utah.

“Thank your first responders, your firefighters, your law enforcement who save lives because when people are running out of dangerous situations, they’re running in,” Dianda said. “Firefighters never hesitate. They run into extremely dangerous situations to fight fires and save people, and when another community anywhere in the country needs their help, they pack up their gear and head out with no questions asked. That is what Alan Swartz, James Shelifoe Jr. and the Beartown firefighters were doing when the accident took place: heading to Utah to help fight a fire. Alan and James were taken from us too soon, but we will always remember and honor them for their dedication to their job and their community, and their selfless act to help others in need.”

KBIC Vice-President Jennifer Misegan chaired Saturday’s meeting of the Tribal Council and recapped the community’s experience of the tragedy.

“The evening of August 27 we were informed of a tragic accident involving our Beartown Firefighters which took the lives of James Shelifoe, Jr. and Alan Swartz,” Misegan said. “As soon as I heard I joined many others … at the Tribal Police Department. We were all in shock and very upset. Our concern was for the firefighters and their families. We worked to get information out to the community as rumors were running wild. We later went to the Tribal Center and assisted families with emergency funding to visit the injured firefighters.

“The following day, some left to go to Minnesota and the rest of us went in,” she said. “We have been working on issues involving the accident since including worker’s compensation, insurance, establishing the relief fund, meeting with foundations, the firefighters, and the families.

“Throughout the heartbreak we have witnessed so many people step up and go above and beyond,” she said. “The outpouring of support has been unbelievable and we are forever grateful. This tragedy was extremely difficult and while there is much healing that may take years, our community came together and we are very thankful.”

In addition to offering support and gifts to the families, and attending and cooking for their funerals, the community honored the young men at a candlelight vigil Sept. 2 at which red ballons and Chinese lanterns were released. Along with pictures of the event KBIC posted on its Facebook page, KBIC said the vigil was a “…very beautiful tribute to our fallen heroes, those injured and their families!”

The widespread outpouring of support for the fallen firemen has resulted in many wanting to donate to the victims’ families, as well as the families of the seven who were injured in the accident.

Beartown Firefighters Relief Fund, account number 201144112 has accumulated about $23,000 at the Superior National Bank for the nine men involved in the crash. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to any branch bank for the fund, which will help the families pay bills as they mourn the losses and care for the many injured.

In addition, donations are being accepted at the KBIC Tribal Center, located at 16429 Beartown Road, Baraga, Michigan, 49908.