Firefighter Close Calls

Today is International Firefighters’ Day On 5/4/1973 the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control published America Burning identifying “the Nation’s fire problem is the indifference with which Americans confront the subject. Destructive fire takes a huge toll on lives, injuries, and property losses, yet there is no need to accept those losses with resignation. […]

Today is the anniversary of the release of America Burning On 5/4/1973 America Burning was published by the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. “The report evaluated the fire loss in the United States and made recommendations to reduce loss and increase the safety of citizens and firefighting personnel. The report concluded that fire […]

CHICAGO – A firefighter and another person were injured in a blaze Tuesday morning in the West Woodlawn neighborhood. The fire began around 6 a.m. at a four-floor apartment building at 6418 S. Vernon Avenue. Officials said a firefighter fell down a stairway that collapsed during the fire. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with […]

One firefighter was injured and needed help getting out of a burning house on Andrews Avenue in Naugatuck. Crews said the blaze happened at a two-family home. Responding firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the second floor and attic. The firefighter injured hurt his leg and needed assistance getting downstairs and out of the house, […]

On 5/3/1908 the Aveline Hotel fire in Fort Wayne, Indiana left eleven (sixteen) dead and twenty injured that started near the elevator shaft on the first floor from defective wiring around 3:10 a.m. “Within five minutes, however, the interior of the structure was a seething furnace, and many of the guests were caught in their […]

A Lancaster city firefighter was hospitalized after falling while battling a blaze at a city residence Monday afternoon, according to Fire Chief Todd Hutchinson. The firefighter, whose name was not released, fell about 10 to 12 feet through a skylight on the second-floor roof of a home in the 500 block of North Mary Street […]

CHICAGO — At least 15 people were displaced and a Chicago firefighter was injured in a two-alarm fire on the city’s Southwest Side Sunday night, according to officials. Officials said several residences were damaged in the 4300 block of South Honore Street just before 9:45 p.m. in a fire. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital […]

On 5/2/1967 a Milwaukee, Wisconsin fifth alarm fire started around 6:35 p.m. when “a 6,500-gallon gasoline tanker overturned rounding the corner of 1st and Florida Streets, rolling to rest against the office windows of the 6 story Jewett & Sherman Food Processing Plant. The tanker had ruptured… Instantly, either from friction sparks or hot wires […]

NEW YORK — Five firefighters were hurt battling a raging fire in Chinatown early Sunday morning. Video from the scene overnight shows intense flames and smoke inside a four-story building in Chatham Square near Mott Street. The fire started just before midnight Sunday on the first floor, which houses the Dim Sum Palace Restaurant. The fire quickly spread […]

NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. — Firefighters responded to a fire on Linwood Avenue in Northbridge, Friday. Sky25 was over the scene where you could see firefighters dealing with heavy smoke conditions. One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire. That firefighter suffered a shoulder injury when the ceiling collapsed, according to Northbridge Fire Chief David White. The […]

A firefighter was injured and a family of three displaced in a Saturday afternoon fire in Dale City. Crews were called to the 5000 block of Reardon Lane about 3:55 p.m. and arrived to find the single-family home “well involved and heavy smoke conditions,” Prince William County fire and rescue said in a news release. […]

A firefighter and eight civilians suffered minor injuries in a three-alarm blaze in the Bronx Friday, the FDNY said. The injuries came as firefighters battled a Friday evening rubbish fire in Throgs Neck which quickly spread to an apartment building and a two-story commercial structure. Eight civilians also suffered minor injuries from the blaze.Citizen The […]

The United States Fire Administration has designated the week of May 1-7, 2022 as Arson Awareness Week (AAW). This year’s theme is Arson in Homeless Communities: Engagement – Education – Outreach. The goal of this year’s campaign is to provide residents with strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods. The U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire […]

All, Retired FDNY FF Danny Noonan reached out and advised that they are trying to find any and all of the Firefighters (or their next of kin) who responded to “The Phone Fire.” for an event on Saturday May 21, 2022 at the Fire Academy. The ceremony will include an Honor Guard, the National Anthem, the […]

On 4/30/1924 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter died of asphyxiation while operating at a fire. On 4/30/1951 a Cambridge, Massachusetts firefighter died “while operating on mutual aid at a tissue warehouse fire in Somerville.” On 4/30/2000 a Greenwood Fire Company firefighter “died while participating in a live-burn training exercise in an acquired structure. Firefighters were conducting […]

On 4/29/1986 the Los Angeles (California) Central Library fire destroyed more than $2 million in the structure and $20 million of the contents. The fire required 60 fire companies, 9 rescue ambulances, 2 helicopters, 40 command officers, and over 350 firefighters, approximately 45% of the LAFD. A smoke detector activated at 10:52 a.m. and the […]