Clayton Fire Chief Dies Of Injuries Suffered In Accident At Fire Station
The Chief of the Clayton Fire Company has died of injuries suffered in an accident at the fire station Monday night.
Fire Chief John Pridemore passed away Tuesday at Christiana Hospital.
Pridemore joined the Clayton Fire Company in 1991 and served in many capacities, including chief for the past year.
Monday night, he was on a scissor lift doing clean-up duties at the station when it got knocked over. Pridemore fell about 25 feet and his head struck a vehicle’s bumper.
Details on services have not been finalized.
Pridemore was also employed as Town Manager of the Town of Clayton.
More biographical information was released by the Clayton Fire Company:
Chief Pridemore joined the Clayton Fire Company in January 1991 as a regular member “stating he wanted to serve the community he lived in”. Chief Pridemore Served the Clayton Fire Company in many offices, the most recent as fire chief from 2021 to the present. Chief Pridemore served as vice president of the fire company in 2008 and 2012 and served as president from 2009-2011, he also served as company secretary in 2007. Chief Pridemore served as a fire lieutenant in 2013 and 2014, fire captain in 2015 and 2017, 1st Assistant Chief 2016 and 2018. In 2019 and 2020 he served as Deputy Chief and was elected chief in 2021.
Chief Pridemore’s service extended beyond his community, he served as the president of the Kent County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association in 2013 and Chief Pridemore served his county in the Delaware National Guard as a military police officer. Chief Pridemore was a third degree mason with the Smyrna Lodge.
Chief Pridemore is survived by his wife Kimberly, his daughter Amanda and her significant other Jorden, and son Michael, and his granddaughter Sadie. Chief Pridemore was currently employed by the Town of Clayton as the Town Manager.
The Clayton Fire Company has been placed out of service until the services have been completed and the fire district will be covered by fire companies in Delaware and Maryland giving the Clayton members time to decompress and prepare for the services. The members of the Clayton Fire Company would like to take every company who has reached out to offer their services.
Details of his services at this time are not complete and will be sent once confirmed.
The family request any donations be made to the Clayton Fire Company PO Box 1050 Clayton, DE in Chief Pridemore’s memory.
