Sternberger, Bruce 
Age: 56 
Cause of Death: Other 
Rank: Firefighter 
Nature of Death: Electrocution 
Classification: Volunteer 
Emergency Duty: Yes  
Incident Date: 06/10/2005 
Duty Type: On-Scene Fire 
Incident Time: 00:44 
Activity Type: Other 
Death Date: 06/10/2005 
Fixed Prop. Use: Outdoor Property 
Fire Dept. Info: Hardtner-Elwood Volunteer Fire Department
General Delivery
Hardtner , Kansas  67057
Chief: Jim Roglin
 
Initial Summary:   Firefighter Sternberger earlier in the day (06/09 @ 1445hrs) had worked a mutual aid call of a grass fire that burned 260 acres of wheat. At night, Sternberger called in an alarm to the fire department reporting that there had possibly been a lightning strike on a power poll near his residence causing both a power outage and another ground fire. A short time later, Sternberger again called the fire department to ascertain the status of response units then he went outside to begin work on putting the fire out. While doing so, Sternberger came into contact with the live wire that had caused the fire electrocuting him to death.  
Memorial Fund Info: In memory of Firefighter Bruce Sternberger C/o Hardtner-Elwood Volunteer Fire Department, General Delivery, Hardtner, KS 67057