CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Family members of fallen Pineville firefighter Richard Sheltra traveled west for some much-needed family time recently and have a heartwarming story to tell.
Sheltra died while on duty fighting a fire at a strip mall in Pineville in April.
The family and Pineville Fire Department received an outpouring of love and support from the community.
The family laid Sheltra to rest a week later.
While vacationing in Limon, Colorado this month one of the family members lost a cell phone.
The phone had photos of Sheltra and his family and held a lot special memories in it, family members said.
The family tracked the phone using the Find My iPhone app and found that is was 285 miles away in Dumas, Texas.
The family quickly contacted the Dumas Fire Department with a plea for help.
Firefighters worked with the local Police Department to track the phone using its last known location.
Officials were able to find the phone and return it to the family with all the photos still on it.
After that family members said Sheltra’s memory to help others remains with them well beyond the town limits in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, and even the state of North Carolina.
They are very grateful to the firefighters and police in Dumas, Texas and said they are sending them #PVFD73 swag and extend an open invite in case any of them come to Charlotte in the future.
The Sheltra family said they are thankful that the firefighter brotherhood has no limits.
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