The Phoenix Fire Department is mourning the loss of two of their family members in less than two weeks. Captain Ray Mercado died of natural causes on Feb. 5 and dispatcher Megan Lange was killed by a wrong way driver on I-17 on January 27.
"He was like our dad and he treated us like his children," said Capt. Benjamin Santillan who told 12 News he looked up to Mercado. "And the fact that he talked to us and guided us, he made you a better firefighter." Santillan worked with Mercado for 12 years. Mercado was with the fire department for 27 years.
Santillan said Mercado will always be remembered as someone who joked a lot, encouraged others to excel, and was well respected within the department. "We miss him because he was a big chunk of our heart, a big chunk of our organization."
The loss is even greater with Megan Lange, who was with the department for five years. "She cared about what she did," said Santillan.
Lange was 26 years old. She leaves behind her husband Patrick, son Sean who is 2 years old, and another son Miles who is 6 months old. A fund has been set up to help Lange's family.
You can donate by sending a check to the United Phoenix Firefighters Assocation and indicating it is for Megan Lange. That address is 61 East Columbus Avenue in Phoenix.
Mercado leaves behind his wife Charlene of nearly 35 years, four daughters, and two grandchildren. If you would like to help his family, you can donate to the 100 Club.
