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Bio	Jason Bitting began is career as a firefighter on the Keokuk Fire Department on April 4, 1993. The Keokuk Fire Department has been a full time career department since 1878. Bitting was appointed Firefighter 1st Class on Oct. 4, 1994. Firefighter Bitting died in the line of duty on December 22, 1999, while attempting to rescue three children trapped in an apartment located at 727 Franklin Street in Keokuk, Iowa. Bitting and two other firefighters, Assistant Chief David M. McNally and Firefighter Nathan R. Tuck all perished due to a flashover that occurred while attempting the rescue. Two of the children had been brought out of the structure and the firefighters were in the process of locating the third child when the flashover occurred. Firefighter Bitting was actively involved in instituting a First Responder Program into the Keokuk Fire Department. He also was very active in fire prevention and fire safety for children in the community. Firefighter Bitting was involved with fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy. He was also a member of the Local 568 International Association of Fire Fighters. He loved to play the guitar as well as tennis and other sports activities. He spent most of his free time with his wife and children. His wife, Colleen Bitting; two daughters, Katelyn and Madison; and one son, Tyler; survive Firefighter Jason L. Bitting. His parents also survive him.