Fallen Soldier: Thomas G. Byrne

Fire Chief Thomas G. Byrne, 51, was born June 22, 1965, in Kansas City, MO. He was a 30 year veteran of the Kansas City Fire Department and retired as a Battalion Chief. He passed away February 11, 2017, at Saint Luke's East Hospital as a result of occupational cancer.

Throughout his career with the fire department, he was dedicated to the safety of the public and his fire department family. He joined the Brotherhood Instructors, LLC, which allowed him to travel the United States and Canada teaching fire safety tactics.

Following his death, his daughter, Colleen Byrne, formed the Byrne Out Cancer Foundation. As the incidents of occupational cancers in the fire department have increased over the past decade, Tom studied their causes and how to best protect against them. One of these measures was to decontaminate gear with the use of a special washing machine called an extractor. The Byrne Out Cancer Foundation hopes to help provide this potentially life-saving equipment for every fire station across America.

He is survived by his wife, Stacy and daughter, Colleen.