On March 6, 2018, the Salisbury City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to approve the renaming of the city’s newest fire station to honor two fallen firefighters. The station will be named the Justin Monroe and Vic Isler Salisbury Fire Station No. 6 and Fire Academy.
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 3 p.m. at 310 Cedar Springs Road.
“Firefighters Monroe and Isler were not only brave and dedicated firefighters but they were committed to the Salisbury community,” said Fire Chief Bob Parnell. “As a department, we knew having the station named after them would be a reminder of all the good work they did for the citizens of Salisbury. Their memories will carry on in the hearts of not only of their families, but in the hearts of our community. We miss them terribly, and we will never forget what they gave to all of us.”
Monroe and Isler were killed in the line of duty while fighting the Salisbury Millwork fire in March 2008.
Firefighter Justin E. Monroe was 19 at the time of his death. At age 14‚ Monroe was a junior volunteer at Miller’s Ferry Fire Department‚ where he was named Junior Firefighter of the Year. While in high school‚ he took many firefighting classes and became an EMT by his senior year. By his 19th birthday‚ he was a lieutenant at Miller’s Ferry Fire Department. In 2006, Monroe began to pursue his fire technology degree at Central Piedmont Community College. In 2007, he began working part-time at Salisbury Fire Department and Spencer Fire Department while continuing to carry on his duties at Miller’s Ferry.
Firefighter Victor A. Isler‚ Sr‚ age 40‚ was a veteran and seasoned member of the fire service. He was the Valedictorian of his Medic Class with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the ‘TOP GUN’ recipient in the 2007 Rowan Cabarrus Community College Fire Academy. After the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Isler worked beside his family and other firefighters at ground zero in Manhattan. Prior to becoming a member of the Salisbury Fire Department‚ he was a dedicated member of the Deer Park Fire Department in Long Island‚ NY‚ and a Medic with FDNY.
The Monroe and Isler Fire Station No. 6 and Fire Academy will house the Fire Department’s training and safety officers. The station will also be staffed with firefighters and emergency medical technicians on a 24-hour basis.