Former Portland firefighter died after collision

ARCANUM, Ohio — A Portland native died Friday after he was involved in a traffic collision.

Chris Bemis, 63, St. Marys, Ohio, died at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, following the collision in Darke County, Ohio.

Bemis was born in Portland and had previously served with Portland Fire Department and Rescue 19.

“The Portland Fire Department extends our deepest condolences following the tragic loss of Chris Bemis,” the department said in a Facebook post. “His dedication to public service continued beyond our department, and his loss is felt deeply by all who had the honor of knowing and working alongside him.”

According to a report from Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Bemis was driving south in a Spirit EMS transport bus on Ohio 49 at about 7:20 a.m. Friday when a northbound cargo van pulling a trailer crossed the center line. The van hit the 2023 Chevrolet medical transport bus Bemis was driving.

The collision occurred near Ohio 49’s intersection with Pitsburg-Laura Road, about 12 miles southeast of Greenville.

After the initial collision, the van continued north and hit a 2013 Dodge sedan driven by 18-year-old Kenadie Hensley of Arcanum, Ohio. Both the van and sedan caught on fire.

The driver and passenger of the van were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. Their identities have not yet been released.

Bemis was trapped in the transport bus and had to be extricated by emergency responders. He was transported to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Bonnie Behee, 62, New Madison, Ohio, and a juvenile were passengers in the medical transport bus at the time of the collision. They were transported to Wayne HealthCare with non-life-threatening injuries.

Hensley was treated at the scene and released.

Bemis had worked for Spirit EMS for about two years. Spirit EMS president and CEO Ben Hathaway told WHIO-TV of Dayton that one of the main duties Bemis had was taking children to school. He was transporting a 12-year-old student to Franklin Monroe Local Schools at the time of the collision, Hathaway said.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this terrible tragedy,” Hathaway told WHIO. “We are devastated by the loss of our teammate and deeply saddened for the other families who are grieving today.”

Funeral services for Bemis, who is survived by three children and six grandchildren, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Family Worship Center, 200 E. Elder St., Portland.

A vigil in remembrance of Bemis and the other two deceased men was held Friday evening at Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville.

Arcanum Fire Department, Arcanum Rescue, Pitsburg Fire Department, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Arcanum Police Department, Greenville Fire Department, Greenville Township EMS and Careflight all assisted at the scene.

Ohio 49 was closed for about five hours following the collision.

Darke County Coroner’s Office and Darke County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate the incident.