The members of Alexis Fire Department offer their condolences to the families of Justin Monroe Victor Isler and Salisbury Fire Department. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. SALISBURY N.C. — As reality set in on March 8 one day following a massive fire that claimed two of the citys bravest friends family and fellow firefighters continued the ongoing grieving process. Firefighters Victor Isler and Justin Monroe were on the first hose team that responded to the blaze. Several hours later both were confirmed dead. Those close to both men shared memories of their heroes following the tragedy that claimed them. Life Cut Short Nineteen-year-old Justin Monroe was described by members of the Millers Ferry Volunteer Fire Department as someone who was always smiling. Monroe was hired by the Salisbury Fire Department on a part-time basis last October but had continued to be active at Millers Ferry. He also held a part-time paid position at the Spencer Fire Department and was enrolled as full-time student in the fire science program at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. When asked how often he was at the department after taking on the other jobs and attending school the group of firefighters said in unison Everyday. Monroe first joined the departments junior program at the age of 14. He climbed up the ranks within the department and gained the title of lieutenant last April. Millers Ferrys members said all he ever wanted to do was be a firefighter. Safety Officer Todd Kidd said Salisbury first hired firefighters on a part-time basis and then moved them up from there something Monroe was well on his way to. He was going to be a firefighter somewhere whether it was at Salisbury or somewhere else he said. Where ever he could fight fires he would be there fighting them Firefighter Rusty Smith chimed in. Kidd said that whenever the department was short on help he would fill in where needed and had held just about every position within the department. He was the head of the department you could say. Josh Fox who is only a year older than Monroe had a very close relationship with his fallen comrade. He was just coming out of the juniors program as Justin was going in. Foxs father Bobby is the chief of the department and is also a captain with Salisbury. Kidd said both Victor Isler and Monroe were assigned to his command according to Kidd. He knew what he was doing. He was very trustful a really good guy he said. If we werent running calls he was here with us playing football or paintball. Fox said that Monroes passion next to firefighting was the outdoors. Hunting and fishing was his life he said. If he wasnt here he was out there. Following the tragedy Millers Ferry was flooded with support from not only those in their community and the surrounding towns and cities in the state but from people all over the world. Fox said he wanted to thank everyone who has sent the department e-mails voicing their sympathies to the departments loss and all of the surrounding departments that offered aid in the hours following Monroes death. While the heartfelt actions and gestures wont bring back his friend theyll serve in honor of what he was a firefighter. New Chapter Tragic Ending Last summer Victor Isler moved his family to Harrisburg N.C. from New York to become a firefighter with the Salisbury Fire Department. It was something he pursued with long-time friend Chris DeMatto who also moved to the area from New York. Both men where members of the Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department where Isler was a paramedic. On Saturday March 8 one day after the fire Chris wife Kelly gave birth to a baby boy. The couple named their son Nicholas Victor DeMatto in honor of his close friend and fellow firefighter. The former FDNY paramedic wasnt in the city long but quickly made a positive impression on those he came in contact with. Never met a guy like him before … He gave everything he had to this department. He was a type of father figure to us Firefighter Chris Haynes said. If you were having a bad day you were not going to have one for long. Captain Buddy Miller appeared very emotional as he was the first to find Islers body in the debris of the fire. On moving on without Isler he said Were going to crawl on that truck and were going to go and Vics going to be right there next to us. Isler 40 not only served as a paramedic with Deer Park in New York but aslo worked as a paramedic with the FDNY.Isler is survived by his wife Tracy and their 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. Memorial funds for the families of Firefighter Monroe and Isler have been setup at the Salisbury and Harrisburg locations of the Bank of North Carolina Salisbury 415 Jake Alexander Blvd W Salisbury NC 28147 Phone 704 633-3436 Fax 704 647-0951 Harrisburg 3890 Main Street Harrisburg NC 28075 Phone 704 455-1070 Fax 704 455-1260 Donations in Firefighter Justin Monroes name can be made out to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Greenville 950 West Faris Road Greenville SC 29605-4277 Telephone 864-271-3444 Fax 864-271-4471 Memorial and funeral information for both firefighters will be added as it becomes available.
