Firefighter Close Calls

Firefighter Dies After Being Overcome by Heavy Smoke on Second Floor During Residential Structure Fire – Houston, Texas – July 9, 2014 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2014-15 & Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report FY 14-04 On July 9, 2014, Houston Texas Firefighter Daniel Groover of Engine 104 died after becoming […]

Firefighter Killed by Backdraft Explosion During Multiple Alarm Fire in Row of Mercantile Buildings – Montgomery, Alabama – July 7, 1967 On July 7, 1967, Montgomery, Alabama Fireman Hershel O. Roy died in an early-morning fire in a row of six stores, each ranging in height from three to four stories in the downtown business […]

WARREN COUNTY, Miss. — One firefighter was hospitalized, and several others were treated for heat exhaustion Monday evening while battling a large house fire in southern Warren County, according to the Vicksburg Daily News. The fire broke out in the 14000 block of U.S. Highway 61 South near Dogwood Road, where firefighters arrived to find […]

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) – Six firefighters with the Sunshine Fire Department were taken to the hospital by ambulance after a man sprayed bear mace at the scene of a house fire off U.S. Highway 421 in the Baxter community on July 4. Chief and assistant chief both hospitalized The department’s chief and assistant chief, […]

Recently, female firefighters from the Phoenix Fire Department took part in a Female Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study, being run by the University of Arizona and Florida State University. “We’re taking specific measurements of their gear and their body, and then their going into a live fire training and then we’re going to be collecting some […]

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — An Estacada firefighter was transported to a hospital after suffering serious injuries during a fireworks display over the Fourth of July weekend. Firefighter Micah Koch, a certified pyrotechnician, was working his fourth year at the Estacada fireworks event at Estacada High School when he suffered a severe injury following the display, according […]

Fire Chief Killed by Brick Parapet Wall Collapse During Auto Repair Shop Fire – Teague, Texas – July 5, 2008 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatally Report F2008-21 & Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report FY08-02 On July 5, 2008, City of Teague, Texas Volunteer Fire Chief Robert Knight was killed when he was […]

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — A Lexington firefighter was transported to a hospital early Sunday morning after they were injured while combating a working structure fire on Charles Avenue. According to Lexington Fire Battalion Chief Derek Roberts, the fire department was dispatched around 2 a.m. to the 800 block of Charles Avenue for a house […]

Eleven Firefighters Killed in Explosion of Propane Rail Car – Doxol Gas Distribution Plant – Kingman, Arizona – July 5, 1973  On July 5, 1973, 11 Kingman Arizona firefighters and one civilian were killed in a catastrophic BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) at the Doxol Gas Distribution Plant. The explosion occurred following a fire […]

Fireman Dies from Injuries Sustained in Fall Following Backdraft at Four Alarm Fire in Sporting Goods Store – Modell’s Sporting Goods – 200 Broadway, Tribeca, Manhattan, New York – July 5, 1941 On July 5, 1941, FDNY Fireman Carl H. Bischoff of Ladder 8 died from injuries he sustained when he fell through a hole […]

Fire Lieutenant Dies Encountering Hoarding Conditions During Residential High-Rise Apartment Fire – Brooklyn, New York – July 5, 2014 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2014-14 On July 5, 2014, FDNY Lieutenant Gordon Ambelas of Ladder 119 died after he was overcome by extreme fire conditions while attempting to find the seat of the fire in […]

Two Career Land-Based Firefighters Die After Becoming Lost and Running Out of Air During Marine Vessel Fire in Port – Newark, New Jersey – July 5, 2023 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report 2023-10  On July 5, 2023, Newark New Jersey Firefighters Augusto Acabou of Engine 16 and Wayne Brooks Jr. of Ladder 4 died after […]

Firefighter Dies After Becoming Disoriented During Residential Attic Fire – Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania – July 4, 2021 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2021-12 On July 4, 2021, Volunteer Firefighter Sean DeMuynck of the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company died after becoming disoriented and transmitting a Mayday while operating during an attic fire in a […]

BELMONT (WGME) — Another firefighter injured in the May 15 Robbins Lumber mill explosion and fire is out of the hospital Friday night. Lieutenant Katherine Paige, who goes by Katie, was released from Maine Medical Center shortly after noon Friday. Katie Paige spent seven weeks in the hospital after being badly burned. Also read: Injured Maine […]

The FDNY says at least 10 firefighters were injured battling a third-alarm fire inside a warehouse in Greenpoint. Thick black smoke began billowing from the two-story recycling plant at 485 Scott Ave. around 3:45 p.m. Thursday. Crews arrived on scene seven minutes later and battled the blaze for over four hours, according to fire officials. […]

INDIANAPOLIS — Three people, including two firefighters, are in the hospital Thursday recovering from injuries sustained during an early morning blaze at a townhome. The Indianapolis Fire Department was called around 7:50 a.m. to the city’s northeast side on report of a blaze breaking out at a local apartment complex. Upon arrival at the Lake […]

Structural Collapse at Residential Fire Claims Lives of Two Chief Officers and One Firefighter- Gloucester City, New Jersey – July 4, 2002 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2002-32 & NJ Division of Fire Safety Firefighter Fatality Report – Gloucester City On July 4, 2002, Volunteer Fire Chief James Sylvester and Volunteer Deputy Chief John West […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Independence Day weekend started out on a fiery note for Apalachicola. The Apalachicola Volunteer Fire Department responded to reports of a boat fire at 10 Foot Hole boat ramp around 10:30 a.m. Friday , according to a post on the agency’s Facebook page. Video from a witness to the fire shows […]

One Firefighter is Killed and Another Seriously Injured While Fighting Residential Attic Fire Caused by Fireworks – Buffalo, New York – July 4, 1997 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F97-16 On July 4, 1997, Buffalo Firefighter Michael Seguin was killed, and Firefighter Harold Emerson was seriously burned while fighting a fire in the attic of […]

Fire Captain Dies After Becoming Disoriented During Large Commercial Structure Fire – Boling, Texas – July 3, 2010 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2010-16 & Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report FY 10-01 On July 3, 2010, Wharton Texas Fire Department Captain Thomas Araguz died while attempting to locate and extinguish a […]