H. Thomas Tucker, the only member of Citizens' Hose Company No. 1, Inc. to ever lose their life in the line of duty, lost his grip while riding Engine 44-2 to alarm #171, a gas leak at Duck Creek Trailer Park, on August 22, 1982 at 12:45 pm. He fell to the roadway as the engine was negotiating a left turn onto U.S. 13 from East commerce Street. Tucker died 5 days later of injuries he sustained. 
 
Citizens' Hose Company No. 1 carried their deceased comrade H. Thomas Tucker to his final resting place in Glenwood Cemetery on a 1928 American La France, known as 'Old Mom', the company's oldest engine. 
 
Over 600 firemen from more than 52 fire departments and nearly every fire company in Delaware and several from Maryland, journeyed to Smyrna on August 28, 1982 to participate in the memorial service and funeral procession that followed.  
 
H. Thomas Tucker joined the Citizens' Hose Company No. 1 on February 5, 1979 as a school probational member. He became a full member on June 1, 1981. Thomas was Fireman of the Year (most fires) in 1980. He received awards for the second highest fires in 1979 and 1981. Tucker responded to 798 fires from 1979 to 1982. He was inducted into the Del-Mar-Va Volunteer Firemen's Association Hall of Fame on May 6, 1984. 
 
Flowers from each convention parade are placed on H. Thomas Tucker's grave each year. 
 
This is the first, and hopefully the last, such tragedy for the Citizens' Hose Company since it was organized in 1886.