Firefighter Close Calls

Lieutenant Dies and Firefighter Injured After Falling Through Floor While Conducting Primary Search During Residential Basement Fire – Green Bay, Wisconsin – August 13, 2006 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2006-26 On August 13, 2006, Green Bay, Wisconsin Fire Lieutenant Arnie Wolff was killed, and Firefighter Jo Brinkley-Chaudoir was injured after falling through the floor […]

Chief Officer Killed in Fire Collapse of Abandoned Braced Frame Building – Brooklyn, New York – August 13, 1980 On August 13, 1980, Fire Department of New York Battalion Chief Frank T. Tuttlemondo was killed following the collapse of a fire damaged three-story braced wood frame dwelling in the Brownsville section of the New York […]

Four Firefighters Fatally Injured in Propane Gas Explosion in Truck Rental Garage – Avis Rent-A-Truck Explosion – Cleveland, Ohio – August 13, 1963  On August 13, 1963, Cleveland Ohio Fire Lieutenant Edwin J. Hart and Firemen John Thomas McKenna, Robert H. Jones and Robert L. Marquard were fatally injured in an explosion caused by propane […]

A Ukrainian firefighter was killed in Zaporizhzhia after Russian forces carried out a repeated drone strike targeting emergency responders at the scene of an earlier attack. According to a statement from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES), Master Sergeant of the Civil Protection Service Oleksandr Prodan died on Sunday, Aug. 9, while carrying out his official […]

DEMAREST, NJ — Four firefighters and police were hospitalized on Tuesday after a three-alarm fire destroyed a house in Demarest, officials said. The Demarest Fire Department said that firefighters from Creskill and Demarest sped to Woodland Road around 3:44 p.m. They found “heavy fire showing from the second floor and attic area and filled out […]

NEWPORT, Ky. — A man has been charged after allegedly spraying two firefighters with bear spray at a Newport fire station early Wednesday, according to court records. In a press release, the city of Newport says a woman with facial injuries ran into a Newport fire station around 1 a.m. to seek help. Moments later, […]

Firefighter Killed After Becoming Disoriented During High-Rise Office Building Fire – Newark, New Jersey – August 12, 1984 On August 12, 1984, Newark, New Jersey Firefighter James M. Murray was killed while fighting a three-alarm fire in a 15-story office building in the central business district of the city. Firefighter Murray, who was normally assigned […]

The greatest risk to firefighters is running into burning buildings to save someone’s life. The second biggest risk? Developing cancer from the exposure they face as part of the requirements of their job. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, due to the smoke they inhale from burning buildings and the toxins absorbed through their […]

Fire Captain Dies After Falling Through Floor into Basement During Two-Alarm Dwelling Fire – Frederick County, Maryland – August 11, 2021 – Frederick County After Action Report and Improvement Plan – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2021-14 On August 11, 2021, Captain Joshua D. Laird of the Frederick County, Maryland Division of Fire and Rescue Services […]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg firefighter who suffered a traumatic brain injury on the job says his biggest fight didn’t start at the fire scene. He says it started afterward, when the workers’ compensation system he counted on stopped paying benefits and denied the care he still needs. Tyler Vilimek’s days now look […]

Assistant Fire Chief Killed in Porch Collapse During Residential Structure Fire – Altus, Oklahoma – August 10, 2018  On August 10, 2018, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Madison Lee Clinton Jr. was killed after he was pinned beneath a collapsed porch roof while battling a house fire outside of Altus, Oklahoma. Area fire crews […]

Three Firefighters Killed in Wall Collapse Following Fire in Peanut Warehouse – Bishop & Spears Peanut Warehouse Fire – St. Louis, Missouri – August 10, 1887 On August 10, 1887, St. Louis Missouri Fire Department Foreman Bernard McKernan and Fireman Frank McDonald of Hook & Ladder 6, and Foreman Christian Hoell of Hook & Ladder […]

Firefighter Fatally Burned After Being Caught in Flashover While Searching For Trapped Children During Residential Fire – Chicago, Illinois – August 9, 1983 On August 9, 1983, Chicago Firefighter Sidney Brown of Engine 75 died in the line of duty after responding to a house fire on the South Side of the city where three […]

Firefighter Dies in Fall from Fire Escape Ladder – Chicago, Illinois – August 9, 2010 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2010-25 On August 9, 2010, Chicago Firefighter Christopher Wheatley of Truck 2 died from a fall while climbing a fire escape ladder. Crews were responding to an alarm at a four-story mixed occupancy structure. When […]

Four Firefighters Fatally Electrocuted While Operating Aerial Ladder During Fire at Chemical Company – Mercer Chemical Company Fire – Omaha, Nebraska – August 9, 1899 On August 9, 1899, Omaha Fire Lieutenant James Adams, Pipemen George Bendson and Charles E. Hopper of Engine Company 3, and Ladderman Otto Giseke of Truck Company 1 were electrocuted […]

Albany Fire Battalion Chief Wayne Brennan discovered gasoline spilling from the temporary fueling pump shortly before Tuesday’s explosion at the city’s Department of General Services headquarters that seriously injured him and a DGS supervisor, Police Chief Brendan Cox said Friday. According to Cox, Brennan had just finished fueling his vehicle when he noticed the leak. He then […]

Three Firefighters Injured as Braced Wood Frame Building Collapses and Strikes Tower Ladder Bucket – 4251 Third Avenue, The Bronx, New York – August 8, 1980 On August 8, 1980, three members of FDNY Tower Ladder 33 were injured when a burning abandoned three-story braced wood frame dwelling collapsed onto the bucket of their tower […]

Recreational Vehicle Fire Kills One Firefighter and Injures Two Other Firefighters – Huttig, Arkansas – August 8, 1999 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report F99-34 On August 8, 1999, Huttig Arkansas Fire Lieutenant Ronald Wade Meshell was critically burned while trying to control a recreational vehicle fire beside a single-family dwelling. Two other firefighters received […]

CLUTE — A Clute firefighter remained hospitalized Thursday after being injured while battling a mobile home fire in the 1700 block of East Kyle Road. The firefighter was still being evaluated Thursday afternoon, Clute Fire Chief Mike Doucet said. The nature and extend of the firefighter’s injuries are not being released. Firefighters were dispatched about 6:05 […]

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) has a full-time career opportunity for a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist who will serve as a Firefighter Fatality Investigator. This position will be responsible for investigating traumatic injuries and line-of-duty deaths. Duty stations available for this position for candidate selection include NIOSH offices in Cincinnati, OH; Pittsburgh, […]