Rescue Community Mourns 'Big Rig' Instructor Leach
Billy Leach, who taught big rig extrication around the country, passed away while on the road instructing.
The fire service is mourning the loss of Billy Leach Jr., who brought vehicle rescue training on big rigs to a whole new level.Leach, 59, reportedly passed away while staying in an Oklahoma hotel where he was teaching a "Big Rig Rescue" program.
"It is with great sadness that we may now report that Squad Member and Special Team Member Billy Leach Jr. has passed away," the Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad posted on their Facebook page. "Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers." Leach, who lived in Asheboro, NC, joined the fire and rescue service in 1976.
He was a familiar face at training conferences across the country, including Firehouse Expo where he taught thousands of firefighters how to mitigate incidents involving tractors trailers, box trucks and a myriad of other big rigs. "If people consider what I've done as being a pioneer in vehicle rescue, they must consider Billy a pioneer in big rig rescue," said Ron Moore, the author of Firehouse's University of Extrication column. "That's really because it was his specialty and his identity and it was obvious as I worked side-by-side with him. It was his passion."
A few years ago, Leach suffered a stroke, but after his recovery and rehabilitation, he donned his jumpsuit and rescue gear and returned to the training grounds. "Even with the physical impairments from this stroke, his number one goal was to remain a trainer," Moore said.
Leach worked with heavy towing companies across the country to provide realistic training scenarios using cement trucks and other big rigs. "He was truly able to bridge the gap between the towing and recovery industry and fire and rescue," Moore added.
Leach maintained the Big Rig Rescue Facebook page where he shared news stories, videos and training tips about rescue scenarios involving heavy-duty trucks and other vehicles. Under the username BigRig, Leach spent years sharing ideas and presenting training scenario ideas to Firehouse.com Forums users.
"Billy Leach was one of a kind," Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach said. "Billy had an unmatched passion for training. He was an instructor who never passed on an opportunity to discuss big rig rescue tactics or anything extrication. Billy, you will be missed my friend. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. Your Firehouse family will forever remember the many lessons you have shared with us."
Leach shared a preview for his Firehouse Expo hands-on training class, "Big Rig Overturns & Underrides.""Like many others, I am saddened by the loss of a great man in the auto extrication world," Paul Kondor wrote on Leach's Facebook page. "Although I did not get to spend much time working with him, Billy Leach was a wealth of knowledge. He has taught many of us his skills and knowledge of Big Rig Rescue. I had the opportunity to take a few of his classes, and walked away with pointers that I still use today.
"Billy, thank you for your service and your time. Rest easy my friend. We will take it from here."
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