Firefighter Close Calls

On Monday, November 2, 2026, at approximately 5:10 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of Three Notch Road and Friendship School Road in Mechanicsville for the reported suspicious incident and possible stolen vehicle. 911 callers reported a white male in overalls entered the wooded area in the location provided after exiting the firetruck, which […]

At approximately 10:48 a.m. this morning, a vehicle traveling westbound on Route 33 left the roadway and struck Montpelier Station 8, coming to rest inside. The vehicle’s occupants were taken to an area hospital for evaluation. All five Fire-EMS personnel at the station were uninjured. The building sustained significant damage, and crews will assess the […]

Four British Firefighters Killed During Arson Fire in Food Packing Plant Warehouse – Warwickshire Warehouse Fire – Atherstone on Stour in Warwickshire, England – November 2, 2007 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On November 2, 2007, Firefighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Darren Yates-Badley, and Ashley Stephens of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service were fatally injured […]

Fire Captain Killed After Falling Through Roof Skylight During Factory Fire – Veneer Barrel Company – 60-62 Water Street, Brooklyn, New York – November 3, 1911 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On November 3, 1911, FDNY Fire Captain James. A. Hagen of Engine 107 was killed when he fell through a rooftop skylight while fighting a […]

Two firefighters have been hospitalized after fighting a blaze at a Broadview Heights home Monday night, Chief Jeffrey Hajek confirmed to 3News. According to Hajek, the fire occurred at a house on West Royalton Road (state Route 82), which is currently closed between State and Broadview Roads. The firefighters were both taken to the hospital […]

WOODBINE, Md. — One firefighter remains at a medical facility after fire crews responded to a barn fire in Woodbine on Monday morning. According to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, firefighters arriving in the 16000 block of Ed Warfield Road found a structure that was “fully involved” in fire. Crews from […]

Fire Captain Sustains Fatal Injuries During Wood Frame Multiple Dwelling Fire – Chicago, Illinois – November 2, 2012 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2012-28 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On November 2, 2012, Chicago Fire Captain Herbert Johnson of Engine 123 sustained fatal injuries at a 2 ½-story apartment building fire in the Englewood section of […]

Two Firefighters Fatally Injured in Fire Collapse of Livery Stable – Youngtown, Ohio – November 1, 1901 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On November 1, 1901, Youngstown Ohio Firemen Michael McDonough and J. Smith Cowden were fatally injured in the collapse of a two-story brick livery stable on Belmont Avenue in the northern part of the […]

Firefighter Fatally Injured and Two Others Seriously Injured by Falling Cornice During Fire in Mercantile Building – The Marston Building Fire – Baltimore, Maryland – October 29, 1866  Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 29, 1866, Fireman Charles F. Bertram of Engine Company No. 2 was fatally injured when he was struck by a falling […]

Fire Lieutenant Dies Following Structural Collapse During Residential House Fire – Trevorton, Pennsylvania – November 1, 2002 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2002-49 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On November 1, 2002, Lieutenant Timothy DiOrio of the Maine Fire Company of the Coal Township Pennsylvania Fire Department died after being crushed by an exterior wall that […]

Two Firefighters Killed and Several Injured in Fire Collapse of Mercantile Building – The Fowler Buildings Fire – Nassau and Fulton Streets, Lower Manhattan – October 30, 1853 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 30, 1853, New York City Volunteer Firemen John S. Carman of Engine Company No. 5 and Michael O’Brien of Hook & […]

Two Firefighters Killed After Portable Ladder Comes in Contact With Energized Powerline – Penn Central Railroad Yard – The Bronx, New York – October 29, 1974 Submitted by Rick DeGroot. On October 29, 1974, FDNY Fireman John Williams and Probationary Fireman Russell Linneball, both of Ladder 17-2 were killed instantly after their portable ladder came […]

Four Firefighters Receive Burn Injuries While Providing Interior Exposure Protection at Row House Fire – District of Columbia – October 29, 2007 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2007-35 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 29, 2007, four District of Columbia firefighters were injured while providing interior exposure protection at a residential row house fire. The […]

Chief Officer Seriously Burned Fighting Townhouse Fire – Newark, Delaware – October 29, 2000 – NIOSH Firefighter Injury Report F2000-43 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 29, 2000, Volunteer Assistant Chief Kevin Eichinger of the Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Fire Company in Newark, Delaware was seriously burned while attempting to make an emergency evacuation […]

Firefighter Dies in Flashover During Residential Structure Fire- Crossville, Alabama – October 29, 2008 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2008-34 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 29, 2008, Crossville Alabama Firefighter Cody Renfroe was fatally injured while fighting a structure fire in a one-story single-family dwelling. Firefighters believed that an elderly disabled women was still […]

Firefighter Electrocuted After Contacting Overhead Electrical Power Lines at Structure Fire – Newark, New Jersey – October 29, 1994 – New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Firefighter Fatality Report Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 29, 1994, Newark New Jersey Firefighter Michael Jude DeLane of Rescue 1 was electrocuted when he contacted overhead electrical power […]

Two people who were removing copper from a Mesa building while firefighters conducted training were seriously injured. Firefighters were training Tuesday when a work crew removed copper from the structure at Avery Street and Tahoe Avenue. The workers—who were not firefighters—came in contact with copper “that apparently was still energized,” a Mesa Fire and Medical […]

WATERTOWN — A Watertown fire truck was involved in an accident Tuesday morning after the driver suffered a sudden medical emergency and the apparatus struck two utility poles in front of Samaritan Medical Center on Washington Street. The other firefighter on the board immediately attempted to assist and revive the driver, who was unconscious, Town […]

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Three firefighters were injured in two separate fires on the Upper East Side Sunday night through Monday morning, FDNY officials told Patch. According to the FDNY, the first fire broke out on Sunday night at 7:55 p.m. at 300 East 74th St. at the corner of Second Avenue. The fire […]

Summary Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) personnel, such as airport firefighters, face a variety of workplace hazards. NIOSH resources on respiratory protection, health and wellness, preventing heat-related illness, and reducing exposure to hazardous materials and carcinogens can help keep them safe. Background Each month, approximately 60-75 million passengers travel by air transportation in the U.S. […]