Firefighter Close Calls

Three Salvage Corpsmen Killed in Wall Collapse During Three-Alarm Fire in Millinery Store – David Baird & Son Millinery Store Fire – Louisville, Kentucky – September 23, 1911 On September 23, 1911, Louisville Salvage Corpsmen Virgil Ferguson, Joseph Dial and Richard Hardiman were killed by a collapsed wall while operating at a three-alarm fire at […]

ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WMBF) – Two firefighters were injured while responding to a 100-acre wildfire in the Prospect community. It is unknown which department the firefighters served at this time. Robeson County spokesperson Emily Jones told WMBF News Monday that crews found the fire near the intersection of McMillan Road and Red Bank Road. Henry […]

STILLWATER, OK (September 21, 2026) —  Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) today announced the launch of the Institute of Firefighter Survivability, a major initiative stemming from a three-year memorandum of understanding signed in May 2026. This collaboration builds on OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s history of fire protection safety research and […]

Firefighter Killed and Seventeen Others Injured in Wall Collapse During Multiple Alarm Fire in 19th Century Mill Building Converted into Artists’ Studios – Clipper Mill Industrial Park, Baltimore, Maryland – September 16, 1995.  On September 16, 1995, Baltimore City Firefighter Eric D. Schaefer of Rescue 1 was killed in the line of duty while operating […]

Two Firefighters Die After Falling Down Elevator Shaft During High-Rise Fire – Willoughby Tower – Chicago, Illinois – September 22, 1981 On September 22, 1981, Chicago Firefighter Joseph Hitz of Ladder Company 1 and Firefighter Craig McShane of Engine Company 42 died in the line of duty and six other firefighters were injured while fighting […]

Three Firefighters Killed in Wall Collapse During Fire in Discount Store – Dollar General Store Fire – McGehee, Arkansas – September 20, 1975 On September 20, 1975, McGehee Arkansas Firefighters David R. Dupwe III, Walter Russell Leonard Jr., and Michael James Hunt were killed when a wall collapsed on them while battling a fire in […]

NEW YORK (WCBS) – Crews were hurt while battling a fire at a Brooklyn restaurant Saturday. The Fire Department of New York says it received a call just before 5:30 p.m. According to fire officials, three restaurants occupy the building, and the fire extended through the space between the ceiling and the roof from one […]

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Toledo Fire and Rescue Chief Allison Armstrong was hurt in a hit-and-run crash while out of state for a firefighter conference. Armstrong posted on social media Saturday that she suffered “significant injuries” from a crash on Friday night. She explained that another driver hit her vehicle and pushed it into a […]

Firefighter Crushed in Wall and Roof Collapse During Suspicious Three-Alarm Fire in Auto Repair Shop – Hartford, Connecticut – September 15, 1974 On September 15, 1974, Hartford Firefighter Thomas Fischer of Engine 8 was killed while operating at a suspicious three-alarm fire involving an automobile trim shop. The building had suffered a major fire the […]

A fire of unknown origin broke out at a house in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, injuring two people, including a firefighter and the homeowner, during extinguishing operations. According to the North Gyeongsang Fire Department on the 19th, the fire erupted around 12:33 p.m. at a house in Cheonbuk-myeon, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. During firefighting efforts, […]

A firefighter with Orebank Volunteer Fire Department was injured Friday evening during a response to a fire at an outbuilding in the 6100 block of Warrensburg Road, the department’s fire chief told The Greeneville Sun. David Peters said Josh Ball, a new member of the department, breathed in smoke emitting from the outbuilding when the […]

LANGSTON, Okla. — Former Langston assistant fire chief Brian Orndorff is facing a misdemeanor assault and battery charge after allegedly hitting a female firefighter in the department on July 17, according to court documents filed Wednesday. The charge could result in up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory […]

A homicide investigation is underway after a 67-year-old woman was found dead in a suitcase at a Kansas fire station, police said. The investigation began Wednesday evening when two people went to Wichita Fire Station 22 with a suitcase, saying a body was inside, the Wichita Police Department said. Police said the woman has since […]

Fire Captain Killed and Ten Others Injured in Wall Collapse During Fire in Junk Warehouse – Henry Rosen Junk Warehouse Fire – Toledo, Ohio – September 19, 1900 On September 19, 1900, Toledo Ohio Fire Captain John Gallagher of Hook & Ladder No. 3 was crushed beneath the falling walls of a burning three-story iron-clad […]

Fire Captain Falls to Death Down Airshaft During Four-Alarm Factory Fire – Beehler Umbrella Factory Fire – Baltimore, Maryland – September 12, 1922 On September 12, 1922, Baltimore City Fire Captain George A. Lenz of Engine 7 was killed while operating on the roof during a four-alarm fire in an umbrella factory in the Westside […]

Two Firefighters Killed and Eleven Trapped Under Collapsed Walls after Smoke Explosion During Commercial Bakery Fire – Freihofer Bakery – North 19th Street and West Indiana Avenue – North Philadelphia – September 18, 1926 On September 18, 1926, Philadelphia Fire Captain Joseph G. Jones of Engine Company 50 and Hoseman John J. Sykes of Truck […]

 Two firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm house fire early Thursday morning in Southeast Washington, D.C., officials said. D.C. Fire and EMS crews responded around 1 a.m. to the 3700 block of Suitland Road SE, where a fire started on the rear porch of a single-story home and spread into the interior. Fire officials […]

Fire Captain Killed and Assistant Chief Severely Burned in Ammonia Explosion in Cold Storage Warehouse – Shreveport, Louisiana – September 17, 1984 On September 17, 1984, Shreveport Fire Captain Percy Johnson was fatally injured, and Assistant Chief Patrick Johnson was burned over 72% of his body in an anhydrous ammonia explosion and fire that occurred […]

GOSHEN – Over 20 Orange County employees who attended the September 9 county emergency operations center exercise may have suffered from a possible foodborne outbreak. Catered food was made available for those who attended, many of whom became ill with symptoms similar to those from food poisoning, including violent vomiting attacks that lasted for hours. […]

Fire Captain Killed and Six Firefighters Injured in Propane Explosion in Basement of Office Building – Farmington, Maine – September 16, 2019 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2019-16 On September 16, 2019, Farmington, Maine Fire Captain Michael Bell was killed, and six firefighters were injured in a propane explosion in the basement of a recently […]