Christopher Kilmer was 25 when his Hyundai Sonata left Route 41 in Richmond, Massachusetts, and slammed into the trees. The car caught fire right away. First responders found him inside after they put the flames out. He was dead at the scene Thursday morning.
He had spent 11 years with the West Stockbridge Fire Department and also served in Alford. He joined as soon as he was old enough. The department said it was in his blood. When the tones went off, he was usually one of the first to show up.
He went into burning buildings. He climbed on roofs to vent them. He took on whatever the job needed. His mother and brother served with him in West Stockbridge. That made the calls hit closer to home for the whole family.
Christopher worked at a tow company called EMS Automotive too. He went to Monument Mountain Regional High School. Friends said he liked fishing, dirt bikes, welding, and working on cars. He spent a lot of time outside.
The crash happened around 9:45 a.m. near 2715 State Road. His car was heading north. It crossed into the other lane and left the road. By the time crews got there, the vehicle was fully on fire.
Firefighters from West Stockbridge and others in the area put out tributes. They talked about how he just wanted to help the community. No one said he did it for praise. He did it because that is who he was.
His family and the departments around Berkshire County are feeling the loss hard. At 25, he had already given more than a decade to the job. People who knew him say that kind of drive does not come around often.
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