Sat, Jul 05 2008
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Published May 13, 2008 09:45 pm - SENECA, Mo. — At 5 feet 5 inches and 130 pounds, Tyler Casey was barely big enough to control the force of a powerful fire hose. Firefighters cite size of fellow volunteer’s heart
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13 By Melissa Dunson mdunson@joplinglobe.com SENECA, Mo. — At 5 feet 5 inches and 130 pounds, Tyler Casey was barely big enough to control the force of a powerful fire hose. But it’s the size of his heart that others said they will remember most about the young Seneca firefighter. Casey, 21, a volunteer firefighter with the Seneca Area Fire Protection District, died Monday at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin after being injured Saturday afternoon while trying to warn Newton County residents of the killer tornado. The fire department staged a news conference Tuesday to talk about the life and death of a man other firefighters are calling a true hero. “There’s no other term for Tyler than hero,” said Michael Steele, Seneca Area Fire Protection District chief. “There’s no greater love than giving your life for another.” Casey carried a lot of responsibility for a man his age, his fellow firefighters said. He had a 2-year-old daughter, Taryn, for whom he helped care. He worked as a machinist at Carlin’s Machine in Neosho, was finishing up his firefighting studies at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, and still eagerly bounded in to do volunteer work at the Seneca fire district office in Racine. “He wasn’t able to make it to a lot of calls because of all of his responsibilities, but any time he could, he was sky-high and chomping at the bit to go on one,” said fellow Seneca firefighter Joshua Townsend. “He would come in after working a 10- or 12-hour shift (at the machine shop) and would be just so covered with grease that you could hardly recognize him,” said Lt. Tim Jeffers with the Seneca Area Fire Protection District. “But no matter how dirty he was, he always came in with a smile.” Following footsteps Steele described Casey’s dedication to the profession of firefighting. 
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