Sixty Five Years Later: The Line Of Duty Death of Firefighter Frank Schumann Still Remembered

At just past 3 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, December 15th 1957, CFFD Engine 1 was dispatched to the area of State Road and Maitland Avenue for a motor-vehicle accident. At that time Cuyahoga Falls Fire staffed two fire stations, Station 1 on Front Street and Station 2 on the city’s East Side.

Lieutenant George “Red” Costell commanded Firefighters John Moore and Frank Schumann on Engine 1 that shift. After a prolonged time in scene, the crew noticed that with the frigid air temperature, gasoline spilled on the roadway from the accident began to form a substantial amount of ice and an increased hazard for public safety and other vehicles. A request was made for salt to be delivered from Station 1. Firefighter Louie Thompson responded with Truck 5 (a utility pickup truck) to provide salt for the now ice-covered roadway

At around 4 o’clock while the Engine Company was unloading the salt from the bed of Truck 5 a drunk driver veered left-of-center and barreled into the emergency scene with no warning. Firefighters Schumann and Moore were struck and briefly pinned between the drunk driver’s car and the rear of Truck 5. The collision slammed the pickup truck into the rear of Engine 1 and both men were thrown in different directions as the vehicles came to a stop.

An ambulance was summoned and Firefighter Schumann, more gravely injured was rushed to the Emergency Department at Akron City Hospital. Firefighter Moore was taken back to Station 1 and then was transported to the Emergency Department in the same ambulance as the drunk driver that had hit them.

After more than a eight hours, Firefighter Frank Schumann (33) succumbed to multiple internal injuries and massive hemorrhage as a result of blunt-force trauma and died at the hospital.  He had been a member of the department for three and a half years, a veteran of the Navy and left behind his wife, Mary Jane, their two young children (David and Rebecca) and seven of his nine brothers and sisters, of which he was the youngest.

John Moore was treated and survived the incident and ultimately finished his career with the department, retiring in January of 1984 as a Captain. John and his wife remained in Cuyahoga Falls after retirement.

When describing the incident John recalls hearing Schumann yelling after the collision, “Is Johnny okay? Is he okay?…” a facet of the story that still resonates with him to this day; after being struck, pinned briefly between two vehicles then thrown in the air, Firefighter Schumann cared only to ask if his brother, was okay.

It has long been rumored that Firefighter Schumann attempted to push Moore away from the collision in an attempt to save him. When asked of this, Moore has advised that he doesn’t remember whether that was the case or not but states that it was indeed, entirely possible.

Firefighter Schumann’s death is one of two Line Of Duty Deaths that have occurred in the history of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, the other happening in 1937. Frank Schumann was laid to rest at Bethlehem Cemetery in Malvern, Ohio.

For half a century his death remained but a footnote in the history of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department with facts and details of that night being lost over the course of decades. However, after several years of dedicated research and a commitment to rightfully honor his legacy, we now can proudly say that FF Schumann is remembered as a hero and a key figure in the rich history of our Fire Department – his death is essentially the leading cause behind the formation of this Memorial Foundation in 2020. Steps to properly honor FF Schumann began a few years before our Foundation however.

In 2016, a tradition of placing a wreath at State and Maitland was started in coordination with the Fire Department administration and the IAFF Local 494. This tradition continues each and every December 15th.

In 2018 the City ceremoniously placed memorial site signage to commemorate FF Schumann’s sacrifice.

FF Schumann’s likeness will be added to our Memorial when built and the anniversary of his LODD will be honored with a ringing of the bell on a yearly basis.

To his surviving family, we offer our condolences and well wishes on this, the anniversary of his death.

To John Moore, our brother, that unfortunate night is not forgotten and the City of Cuyahoga Falls, it’s Fire Fighters, and our Memorial Foundation will always honor and remember the sacrifice of your friend.

To Frank, continue to rest easy brother,