Firefighter Close Calls

The Bloomington Fire Department is urging drivers to slow down and move over near crash scenes after a firefighter was struck Thursday by a hit-and-run vehicle at the scene of an earlier crash. Fire Department spokesperson Frank Friend said a driver intentionally drove through a crash scene and struck one of the firefighters near the intersection of […]

Twenty-five years after September 11, we remember the firefighters and first responders who answered the call—and recognize the lasting health consequences so many continue to face.  Cancer remains one of the greatest health threats facing firefighters. On September 1 at 6 AM PST, FCSN launched The Sacrifice Continues, a month-long campaign dedicated to remembering, educating and taking […]

Four Firefighters Burned During Residential Structure Fire – LaGrange, Georgia – September 3, 2018 – Underwriter’s Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute Report On September 3, 2018, two fire lieutenants and two firefighters suffered significant burn injuries as a result of a residential structure fire. The fire occurred in an approximately 752 square foot single-story Type […]

Firefighter Sustains Serious Burns and Fire Officer Injured in Carport Collapse During Residential Arson Fire – Fort Worth, Texas – September 3, 2025 – NIOSH Firefighter Serious Injury Report F2025-10 On September 3, 2025, Fort Worth Firefighter Caleb Halvorson was seriously injured and Lieutenant Troy Gallagher of Engine 11 received minor injuries while operating at […]

Deputy Fire Chief Killed in Propane Explosion in Hallway of Two-Family Dwelling – New Brunswick, New Jersey – September 3, 2004 – NJ Division of Fire Safety Firefighter Fatality and Serious Injury Report On September 3, 2004, at 0304 hours, the New Brunswick Fire Department responded to a reported house fire in a two-family dwelling. […]

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — One firefighter was hospitalized, and two other firefighters were injured after putting out a burning building on Monday. The Knoxville Fire Department says firefighters were sent out to a reported structure fire in the 300 block of E. Pleasant Street just before 8 p.m. Additional crews were requested after learning people were […]

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Three firefighters are safe, but a family is without a home after a fire in the West Rowan Fire District, according to Rowan County Emergency Services and the China Grove Fire Department. Several agencies responded, including those from outside the district and county. During the response, firefighters made […]

WYOMING, Mich. — One occupant and two firefighters were hospitalized after a house fire Wednesday morning. It was around 10 a.m. when the Wyoming Fire Department responded to reports of a home on fire. When firefighters arrived at the 1400 block of Rathbone St. SW, they were already able to see flames from outside the […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two buildings caught fire in Old Louisville, and at least one firefighter has been injured. The Louisville Fire Department put out a notice on X just after 2 p.m. Wednesday with this photo: The fire is at 2nd and Hill streets, near Manual High School/the Youth Performing Arts School. Firefighters described it […]

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A house fire in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood on Wednesday morning displaced a family and injured three firefighters, authorities said. A cat also died. San Francisco fire crews responded to a fire on Anderson Street at about 6:30 a.m. It was contained at 7:23 a.m. Giselle Basilio said she was inside […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Flashover During Arson Fire in Restaurant – Stormy’s Seafood Restaurant Fire – New Smyrna Beach, Florida – September 2, 1991 On September 2, 1991, New Smyrna Beach Florida Firefighters Mark Alan Wilkes and James Douglas Sapp were killed when they were caught in a flashover while operating at a late night […]

Seven Firefighters Killed in Collapse of Burning Warehouse – Sharp Street Warehouse Fire – Baltimore, Maryland – September 2, 1888 On September 2, 1888, seven Baltimore City firefighters were killed when a wall of a burning five-story brick warehouse collapsed killing seven firefighters and seriously injuring two others. Firefighters were operating in the adjacent attached […]

Two Fire Officers Die During Silo Fire and Entrapment Incident – Tuscaloosa, Alabama – September 1, 1976 On September 1, 1976, Tuscaloosa Assistant Chief Raymond Montgomery and Lieutenant Joseph Edmonds died after becoming entrapped while operating at a wood chip silo fire at a paper mill. Firefighters had responded to the Gulf States Paper Corporation […]

GLEN ARM, Md. (WBFF) — A firefighter experienced a medical emergency Monday afternoon while battling a house fire in Baltimore County, officials said. Shortly before noon on August 31, crews were called to the 12000 block of Long Green Pike in Glen Arm for a house fire. When crews arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire on […]

Firefighter Killed in Fall During Tenement Fire – 231-233 East 118th Street – East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City – August 31, 1953 On August 31, 1953, FDNY Fireman Julius Feldman of Ladder 43 was seriously injured in a fall during a fire in an occupied tenement in the East Harlem section of Manhattan. While […]

Three Firefighters Fatally Burned in Gasoline Storage Tank Explosion – Gadsden, Alabama – August 31, 1976 On August 31, 1976, Gadsden, Alabama Fire Chief Ralph Speers and Firemen/Paramedics Mike Thornton and Mike Patrick died in a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) while fighting a fire involving an above-ground gasoline storage tank. While unloading premium […]

TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa firefighters rescued two crew members who became trapped inside a burning warehouse. Firefighters responded around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 25 to the warehouse near 4th Street and Peoria Avenue and found heavy fire conditions, NewsOn6 reported. Crews entered the building to attack the fire before two firefighters became trapped, prompting a mayday. “We […]

Nine Firefighters Injured During Residential Structure Fire – McKinney, Texas – August 30, 2025 – NIOSH Serious Injury Report F2025-08  On August 30, 2025, two firefighters were seriously injured and seven sustained minor injuries while operating at a residential structure fire in a large single family dwelling in McKinney, Texas. At 21:10 hours, the 911 […]

Fire Lieutenant Killed in Floor Collapse During Four Alarm Commercial Fire – Ridgewood, Queens, New York – August 30, 1976 On August 30, 1976, FDNY Lieutenant Joseph Sparacino of Engine 291 died while operating at a four-alarm commercial fire in a wholesale beauty supply company in the Ridgewood section of Queens. He was killed when […]

A New Hampshire man whose home was going up in flames allegedly stole a rescue truck from responding firefighters, then crashed into a fire engine, drove over active hoses and narrowly missed three firefighters before fleeing the scene, authorities said. Nestor Roman II, 30, of Dalton, faces multiple charges after authorities said he stole the rescue vehicle […]