Flags at half staff in honor of fallen firefighter

Governor Mike Parson has ordered U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at all government buildings in the City of St. Louis, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, and firehouses statewide on Thursday, January 20, from sunrise to sunset in honor of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Benjamin James Polson.

According to the Governor’s Office, Firefighter Polson was among firefighters who responded to a fire on January 13, at a two and a half story brick structure in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis. After conducting a rapid primary search for victims and quickly extinguishing flames on the first floor, Firefighter Polson was among the firefighters who advanced to the second floor to search for victims and continue fighting the blaze. Firefighter Polson was killed when the roof and top story of the structure collapsed, burying him.
33 year old Benjamin James Polson had served with the St. Louis Fire Department since November 2019.