The Paw Paw firefighter who was killed Wednesday by a fallen power line is being remembered as a father and a husband who gave his life working to keep the community safe. Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim DeGroff said Lieutenant Ethan Quillen had been with the department since 2019. The chief said Thursday was Quillen was “a great guy…just the best.” Quillen was killed while working around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday on 30th Street near Red Arrow Highway in Almena Township. He was responding to a downed power line when a tree broke, causing more of the power line to come down. Chief DeGroff said there was nothing Quillen could do to avoid it. A memorial to Quillen has been placed outside of the Paw Paw fire station.
Meanwhile, a Go Fund Me has been launched to support Quillen’s family in their time of grief. As of Thursday afternoon, it had raised more than $7,000. It describes Quillen as “selfless, kind, loving, hard working, and so much more.”
