Firefighter David J. Clapp

Born: May 2nd, 1962

Last Alarm: October 4th, 1986

Born on May 2nd, 1962 in Webster, NY Firefighter Clapp graduated from Webster's R.L. Thomas high School in 1980 and then went on to SUNY Canton to study Hotel Management.  While attending Canton Firefighter Clapp found his true passion, being an EMT.  He received his New York State Cetification as an EMT while at Canton and also dedicated his time responding to calls on campus.  In January 1984 Firefighter Clapp joined West Webster, initially he was planning on just participating in the EMS portion of the department but later decided to also assist with the firematics of the department.  David worked at National Ambulance and also volunteered his time at Irondequoit Volunteer Ambulance.  

Firefighter David J. Clapp died in the line of duty October 4th 1986 at the age of 24 from injuries sustained following a motorvehicle accident.  At the time of the accident Firefighter Clapp was responding to an incident with the West Webster Fire Department.  Leaving his work at National Ambulance, Firefighter Clapp was enroute to the firehouse to assist in responding to a high call volume due to a storm that was passing through the area bringing with it some heavy rainfall.  While travelling to the firehouse down the Empire Boulevard hill Firefighter Clapp's vehicle struck an area of standing water causing it to hydroplane into the path of another vehicle.  Firefighter Clapp was trapped in his vehicle for approximately 25 minutes while his brothers and sisters, from West Webster took on the difficult task of extricating one of their own.  Once removed from the vehicle members of West Webster transported Firefighter Clapp to the hospital while performing CPR for the duration of the transport.  About a week after the accident it was determined by the family and doctors at the hospital that David should be taken off of life support and he passed.  Even though he had passed Firefighter Clapp continued to give, as an organ donor his heart saved a 46 year old father of two young children, two people benefitted from kidney transplants and his eye tissue helped restore vision and benefitted scientific research.