The Arkansas City Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its own this weekend. Trevor Rusk died while off-duty. KSN spoke with several firefighters about the outsized impact Rusk had on his brothers and sisters. Rusk is described in many words, which is fitting given that one of his brothers called him a man of many words. He was known around the station for his wicked sense of humor and the many pranks he’d pull. He was also a respected, integral part of the team with an instinct and passion for the job. Rusk was a firefighter and EMT who joined the ACFD on June 5, 2023. Despite his relatively short tenure at the department, he took on a leadership role in firefights and around the station. “That was just Trevor. He would do anything for anyone, any time of the day. It didn’t matter,” said firefighter James McIntosh. “I came in and immediately, Trevor just felt like an older brother. Kinda took me under his wing and started showing me the ropes,” said Cutter Plush, ACFD firefighter/EMT. Rusk often came in during his off time to help around the station. He’d also regularly check in on other firefighters, asking about their families and cheering them up when something upset them. He was simply a joy to be around. “He was like a magnet. If he was in the building or in the area, it just seemed like you wanted to be around that guy ’cause, I mean, you know, he was gonna say something funny every 10 seconds, or he would say something you’d have to think about for a week before you even figured out what it meant,” said Plush. “It’s definitely not gonna be the same. We’re not going to have our 3 a.m. Trevor in his boxers and helping clean out the ambulance when he doesn’t have to,” said Lacey Willinger, ACFD firefighter/advanced EMT. “I don’t know it will never be the same; a huge part of this department died with him,” said Joe Camara, ACFD firefighter/EMT. Rusk remains part of the team. “We’re gonna put his name right here ’cause this is where he always sat. That way, we can keep his legacy alive, and he’ll be with us on every call,” said Camara. “He was extraordinary, and there’s no other Trevor. We’re a family at the end of the day, and you know he’s our brother,” said McIntosh. The firefighter loved his work, but what he loved most was his role as a father to his daughter. “He was trying to plan a vacation with him and his daughter that she’ll never get to experience. He loved that girl more than what he ever had,” said Willinger. “He would move heaven and hell just for her, and I just hope that she knows if she ever needed anything, his shift will be able to help her,” said Camara.
Source: KSN-TV