Metro

Volunteer firefighter killed responding to call on Christmas

A volunteer firefighter in New Jersey — who was only 21 years ol🦂d and🍌 preparing to become a cop — was killed in a car crash while responding to a call on Christmas morning, .

Members of her fire company were on their way back from the call when they came upon the scene of the accident, according t💦o Hamilton Township authoriti𓆉es.

Natalie Dempsey, of Mays Landing, had𝔉 been driving her black 2001 Honda Accord to the Mizpah firehouse — where she had vol🌊unteered for the past three years — when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. Officials said she was on her way to suit up after receiving a report of a fire around 6:20 a.m.

“This one has hit us hard,” said Chief Jay Davenport, of the Mizpah Volunteer Fire Company.

“She was one of the most beautiful-souled people you could imagine,” . “The world was ๊lollipops and rainbows for that girl. Her smile can light up th𓃲e room.”

Davenport noted how Dempsey w🌜as the vice president of the South Jersey volunteer fire squ🥀ad, and she still managed to find time to train for the police academy, which she attended over the summer.

“[Her death] smashed my heart out,” he said.

The Mays Landing Fire Department, for which Dempsey also volunteered, wasꦗ also hit hard by her passing.

“To our brothers and sisters at Mizpah Volunteer Fire Company 18-2 we stand with you and we mourn with you during this dark hour,” . “Natalie Dempsey, thank you for your service; we’ll take it from here.”

With Post wires