Canton holds ceremony for those who saved the life of electrocuted firefighter

Last month, Canton Firefighter Anthony Walker was working on a downed tree with a chainsaw when he was electrocuted in a freak accident.

His heart stopped, officials said. But his brothers in the fire service were there to do what they do best, and they resuscitated him and got him the help he needed. Early reports were scary, and it was a day nobody wants to remember.

But on Monday, the City of Canton held a special awards ceremony for the heroes that saved Walker that day. Canton Fire Chief Kenna Pierce honored Demetrius Flax, Justin Wells, and Andy Devine, as well as the rest of Canton and Madison County’s first responders in a ceremony outside Canton City Hall.

“When you have one of your own get hurt, something comes over you,” said Assistant Chief Kelvin Luckett, recalling seeing Walker in the hospital.

Pierce thanked Gluckstadt Fire Department, saying that Chief Henry Davis was the first one he called when the disaster struck. He also thanked the Madison County Sheriff’s Department for closing the roads and escorting the ambulance to the hospital, Madison Fire Department, Canton Police Department, Madison County Emergency Management Agency, Farmhaven Fire Department, Madison County Fire Coordinator Minor Norman, Air Care and others.

Air Care’s unit was grounded that day for heavy winds, but they made the flight for Walker anyway, and Canton presented them with a plaque. Luckett pointed out that they did that in spite of having just lost a crew just short weeks before.

“They answered the call, they came on anyway, and that meant a lot because they’d just lost their men a few weeks ago, and for them to do that meant a lot,” Luckett said.

Flax was the youngest firefighter to ever join Canton Fire Department. He pulled Walker to safety, taking a minor shock himself.
Wells was the one who initiated CPR and applied the defibrillator. Luckett told the crowd of his level-headedness in the chaos and fear of the incident, and how it saved Walker’s life.
Divine, a Gluckstadt Battalion Chief and Medic whose father is a Canton firefighter and mother is a veteran law enforcement officer, was off-duty when he heard the call on the radio. He came to the scene and assisted in the life-saving efforts.

“Once again, we’d just like to thank each and every one of you for coming out to bear witness to the heroic actions that the firemen and the paramedics took, and for that we say thank you and God bless,” Pierce said.