Local

Champaign County first responder community remembers dispatcher, firefighter killed in crash

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY — Joe Hester and Chelsey Jordan Baumann are being remembered by first responders in Champaign County for their dedication to serving the community and willingness to help others.

The couple died in a motorcycle accident in Huber Heights on Thursday.

Baumann was a 911 dispatcher for the Champaign Countywide Communications Center and Hester was a firefighter with the Urbana Fire Division.

“It’ll take time to get over this,” Urbana Fire Chief Dean Ortlieb told News Center 7′s Jenna Lawson. “It’s like losing a family member.”

Chief Ortlieb said Hester was in the military before joining the fire division a few years ago.

He said Hester always exceeded his expectations for his firefighters and didn’t hesitate to go beyond his daily tasks.

“I just could tell he had so much to give,” he said.

Hester’s fellow firefighters have draped an American flag over his gear locker at the fire division in his memory.

Chief Ortlieb also knew Baumann, who he described as a fun and free-spirited person.

“Very similar to Joe and that’s probably why they got along so good,” Ortlieb said.

He said he’s been encouraging everyone who knew the two of them to focus on the good memories they had with them.

Champaign Countywide Communications Center Director Amy Collins provided Jenna Lawson with copies of the last few dispatch calls that Baumann took.

“You can hear the compassion in her voice,” Collins said in an email.

Collins released a statement that called Baumann an ‘excellent dispatcher.’

“She demonstrated her desire to serve the community with kindness and a caring heart. Chelsey will be sorely missed by all.”

Hester and Baumann had three children each and now the Urbana Fire Division is exploring ways to make sure all six children are provided for throughout their lives.

Jenna Lawson

Jenna Lawson

I grew up in Springfield and I'm a big fan of all things Springfield, including Schuler's & the Clark County Fair. A career in journalism never really was a serious thought until the end of high school. You just have epiphanies sometimes, and that's the only way I can explain why I got into this line of work – but I'm happier for it!

0
Comments on this article