At about 1:00 p.m., Ricky and his men were driving at 45 mph heading west on Chef Menteur Highway. The intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Read Boulevard was one of the many intersections in New Orleans with non-functioning traffic lights. The intersection did have temporary stop signs in place. As the Engine entered the intersection, to the left was an 18-wheeler loaded with hurricane related debris heading north on Read Boulevard.
Capt. McCurley saw the truck and shouted, ‘Watch Out!!’ The driver steered the engine to the right in order to avoid the tractor-trailer. The engine traveled over the concrete median between the north and southbound lanes before striking the front end of a minivan vehicle containing several independent insurance contractors working for Allstate Catastrophe.
The engine continued traveling in a westbound direction, going into a ditch which caused the engine to roll an estimated 1¼ times before coming to rest on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The driver and Capt. McCurley were ejected from the engine and the other Firefighter was trapped in the cab.
An ambulance arrived at the scene at about 1:20 p.m. Engine 36 arrived on the scene at approximately 1:38 p.m. and found the driver lying in the road approximately 20 feet directly in front of the engine. The driver had been ejected through the front window, and was treated at the scene of the accident, then transported to a hospital. Capt. McCurley was found pinned under the engine and pronounced dead at the scene. The firefighter riding in the seat behind Capt. McCurley was trapped in the cab and had to be extricated before being transported to a hospital.
Prior to Ricky’s passing, National Guardsman were at the scene from their post on Read Boulevard. They indicated that Ricky was radioing in for assistance for his men and the people in the minivan just prior to dying. They rushed a Chaplain to the scene to administer last rites to Ricky in the moments before he died.
“He was an excellent young captain who did some fine rescue work for us during Katrina," said Parent, speaking in slow measured tones. Chief Parent said, "We've always been a close-knit group here at the Fire Department, but Katrina pulled us even closer; and he and I personally had grown closer and I had great respect for him." Referring to the accident that claimed Ricky’s life, Chief Savelle indicated that vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death of firefighters.
3 hours after the accident, many of McCurley's fellow firefighters stood on the Chef Menteur Highway and delivered a solemn salute as the coroner's white van rolled away from the scene transferring their friend and brother.
Capt. Joe Fincher said of Capt. McCurley, “Ricky transferred to our station shortly after he had found out he had finished number one on the operator’s list. I vaguely knew about him before he transferred to our station. This would have been Engine 4 out of Eastern New Orleans.”
Capt. Fincher recalled, “We were one of the busiest stations in the city at that time. He had spent some time there, and I remember really being so impressed by his intelligence, and how mild-mannered and what a very humble guy he was. Not only was he very, very intelligent, but he was very personable as well. He was one of those people that you only run across once in a lifetime. He’s one that you look back on your life and you think of what people really stood out, and that was McCurley. He was a very unique individual and the more you knew him, the better he got.”
Usually when you really get to know somebody, you begin to see more of their warts--well not him! He was really the opposite; he grew better with age, like a fine wine.”
When asked about Capt. Ricky McCurley, Superintendent, Chief Charles Parent of the NOFD said, “I was blessed to have worked with Ricky. I was his District Chief in the 4th District when he was at Engine 4. Ricky was one of the most intelligent people on the Fire Department. He passed at the top of every test, and he was so good-natured.”
“When you met Ricky, you left with a smile on your face because he made you feel better about yourself. He had such a good attitude about everything. But, he was a prankster, now…so you had to watch your back…if he could, he would get you. He usually left me alone because I was his Chief, but no, nobody was immune to Ricky’s pranks.”
Chief Parent continued, “It was about how he thought and treated his family. He really and truly believed in family. He was a family guy first and he was just fun to be around.”
“Ricky lost his life performing his duties after Katrina. People think that once the hurricane passed that the disaster was over. But, what you have to remember is that we had a city with no infrastructure. Ricky was actually killed while responding to a gas leak. Going through an intersection that had no stoplights…all the intersections had were short portable signs and nobody could see them.”
“He avoided a truck that was picking up debris, and ended up flipped over in a ditch. Ricky’s last act as a New Orleans Firefighter was to call for help for his firefighters on that apparatus. The apparatus had landed on him and he still had the courage, the fortitude to get on the radio and call for help for his people…not for himself, but for his people. And that is a testimony to the man.”
Chief Parent continued, “People don’t realize how important a part our families play in us doing our mission. When I met Ricky’s wife for the first time, I was so encouraged by her. She had such a good attitude. She had just lost the love of her life. She had to take care of her son by herself now, and one of the things that really got to me is when she saw the firefighters that were on the apparatus with Ricky. All of them were severely injured. She tried to encourage them.”
“That was the kind of person she was. They were an outstanding couple and will always be a part of the New Orleans Fire Department family. And that is all I have to say about that.”
8th District Chief Gary Savelle when asked of Ricky, laughed and said, “I used to call him Curley because of his curly black hair. He remembered Ricky as being a “really quiet and smart guy.” Those who commanded him respected McCurley’s intelligence as well as those he led.
Operator Alan Boisdore had worked with Ricky since joining the department in 2001. He was assigned to Engine 4, where Ricky was an operator and Joe Fincher was a Captain.
“I met Ricky McCurley at Engine 4 when I first came into the job,” Alan said. “He was a fun loving guy, always willing to help you and read all the time.” Alan continued, “He was goal orientated …just a real nice guy…I ended up working with Ricky for 4 years. We fought fires together, we did inspections together, and we trained together. We became very close. Our families would get together for barbeques during off time; just the typical stuff friends would do…he was a great firefighter and my dear friend.”
By the time of Katrina, Ricky had taken the Captain’s test and scored at the top of the list. Alan said, “Though he wasn’t a Captain yet, he was just waiting to get made one.” Capt. Fincher had transferred to Engine 18, so for the storm, Ricky was actually in charge.”
At the end of Ricky’s Bell South video, one of the other firefighters asked Ricky, “Hey Ricky, what are the three most important things to you?” Ricky smiled and took of his NOFD baseball cap and, holding up finger count for each, said…“My wife, my child, and my wife’s family!”
Capt. Richard M. McCurley is greatly missed by all who knew him. He was a hero and great man, and in many ways, he reflected the character and integrity of the men and women of the New Orleans Fire Department.
When Capt. McCurley was laid to rest, his dress uniform jacket could not be located. Chief Parent offered up is dress uniform jacket and Ricky was buried wearing it.
This book is dedicated to his memory and in honor of
