07/23/2026
On a hot summer night 60 years ago, members of the Hatfield Volunteer Fire Company received a call that would change their lives. On July 23, 1966, Hatfield’s firefighters were training at their Broad Street station, preparing to go standby at the Hatfield Speedway, when a call came in from the Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale asking for help on a building fire on Jenkins Avenue. Nine firefighters jumped onto the company’s two-year-old fire truck which headed east on Cowpath Road towards Lansdale. After crossing the intersection of Orvilla Road, the firetruck swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, skidded off the shoulder of the roadway, just missed a large tree on the side of the road, hit a utility pole, then rolled over at least once. Several firefighters were thrown clear of the truck, but one, Francis X. Devlin, was pinned underneath. Devlin, age 44, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained after he was pinned below the fire truck. Francis Devlin was Army veteran who had earned a Purple Heart in World War II, was active in his church, St. Maria Goretti, a member of the Hatfield American Legion Post, and had served as the fire company’s president. He was the father of three children. Ten years ago, on the 50th anniversary of this tragic accident, the Hatfield Fire Company dedicated a memorial to Francis X. Devlin Sr. on the firehouse property at the corner of Market and Union Streets. Thankfully, no other Hatfield firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty in the company’s 116-year history. We appreciate and thank these faithful volunteers for their dedicated service to the community.
