JEFFERS, HARRY J.
Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes
On February 5, 1925, Harry Jeffers, the first paid Chief of the Bethlehem Steel / Sparrows Point Fire Department , was on the scene of an oil tank fire at the tin-plate mill at Beth Steel. Chief Jeffers was on the ladder attached to the 50 foot tall tank climbing to the top to assess the extinguishment efforts.
He was just a few feet from the top when ,suddenly, the tank boiled over with oil & flames drenching Chief Jeffers as he was climbing the ladder. Three fellow firemen ,who caught him before he fell all the way to the ground, also received burns. Chief Jeffers was transported by ambulance to Maryland General Hospital where he died from his injuries soon after arriving. The three fellow firemen who were also burned, survived.
Chief Jeffers was a lifelong resident of Sparrows Point & for many years a member of the Sparrows Point Volunteer Fire Department before being hired as Chief of the paid department.
A requiem high mass was held at St.Luke’s Catholic Church in Sparrows Point where Chief Jeffers served as choir director.
Chief Harry Joseph Jeffers was 47 years old. Number of years served are unknown at this time.
