Firefighter Close Calls

Refinery Blaze Kills Eight Firefighters – Gulf Oil Refinery Fire – Girard Point, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – August 17, 1975 On August 17, 1975, eight Philadelphia firefighters died fighting an eleven-alarm fire at Gulf Oil Corporation’s Girard Point refinery in South Philadelphia. The blaze began when an overfilled oil storage tank released vapors that ignited near […]

Firefighter Killed and Dozens More Injured in Fire Collapse During Overhaul Operations Following Three-Alarm Fire in Mercantile Loft Warehouse – The Grotjan & Lobe Building Fire – Baltimore, Maryland – August 16, 1907 On August 16, 1907, Baltimore City Tillerman George E. Gill of Hook and Ladder Company 4 was killed when the top floor […]

Firefighter Killed in Fall from Fire Escape During Abandoned Building Fire – 237-239 Broadway – Newark, New Jersey – August 16, 1980 On August 16, 1980, Newark, New Jersey Firefighter Harry F. Halpin was killed while conducting overhaul operations during a fire in an abandoned three-story brick and wood joist multiple dwelling in the North […]

Firefighter Killed and Two Others Injured in Truss Roof Collapse During Three-Alarm Auto Dealership Fire – Chicago, Illinois – August 15, 1975 On August 15, 1975, Chicago Fireman Donald A. Moore of Truck 58 died after an eighteen-foot-tall brick wall collapsed on him as he and two other firefighters were trying to force entry into […]

Three Firefighters and Two Civilian Rescue Workers Killed in Backdraft Explosion and Collapse – The Lake Street Fire – Reno, Nevada – August 15, 1948 On August 15, 1949, Sparks Fire Chief Frank Hobson, and Reno Fire Captain Glen Davis and Fireman Earl Platt were killed in a backdraft explosion and collapse during a fire […]

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A fire in south-central Kansas left a home destroyed and two firefighters injured Thursday, according to authorities. Cowley County Fire District 4 said that around 11:15 a.m., maintenance workers with the City of Udall were on a bucket truck when they spotted smoke coming from the east side of the city. […]

One firefighter has been confirmed dead after an explosion occurred at a shipbuilding plant in Fu’an city, Fujian province on Thursday afternoon, according to a statement released by the city’s fire and rescue bureau on Thursday night. At around 1:09 pm, a fire broke out on a ship in Gantang township, and rescue forces responded […]

A federal judge has given the families of three Baltimore firefighters who died on the job in 2022 another chance in their yearslong legal battle with the city. U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox allowed the families of Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo to file an amended complaint against the city this week, giving them another opportunity […]

Firefighter Struck and Killed By Water Cannon on Fireboat While Battling Fire in Oil Storage Warehouse – Standard Oil Company Devoe Storage Yard – Long Island City, Queens, New York – August 14, 1913 On August 14, 1913, FDNY Marine Fireman Brereton E. Johnson of Fireboat 77, the Abram S. Hewitt, was killed while fighting […]

Fire Lieutenant Dies After Being Trapped in Attic After Falling Through Roof While Conducting Ventilation Operations- Dallas, Texas – August 14, 2011 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2011-20 & Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigative Report FY 11-07 On August 14, 2011, Dallas Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Todd Krodle died after falling through a roof and being […]

Lieutenant Dies and Firefighter Injured After Falling Through Floor While Conducting Primary Search During Residential Basement Fire – Green Bay, Wisconsin – August 13, 2006 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2006-26 On August 13, 2006, Green Bay, Wisconsin Fire Lieutenant Arnie Wolff was killed, and Firefighter Jo Brinkley-Chaudoir was injured after falling through the floor […]

Chief Officer Killed in Fire Collapse of Abandoned Braced Frame Building – Brooklyn, New York – August 13, 1980 On August 13, 1980, Fire Department of New York Battalion Chief Frank T. Tuttlemondo was killed following the collapse of a fire damaged three-story braced wood frame dwelling in the Brownsville section of the New York […]

Four Firefighters Fatally Injured in Propane Gas Explosion in Truck Rental Garage – Avis Rent-A-Truck Explosion – Cleveland, Ohio – August 13, 1963  On August 13, 1963, Cleveland Ohio Fire Lieutenant Edwin J. Hart and Firemen John Thomas McKenna, Robert H. Jones and Robert L. Marquard were fatally injured in an explosion caused by propane […]

A Ukrainian firefighter was killed in Zaporizhzhia after Russian forces carried out a repeated drone strike targeting emergency responders at the scene of an earlier attack. According to a statement from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES), Master Sergeant of the Civil Protection Service Oleksandr Prodan died on Sunday, Aug. 9, while carrying out his official […]

DEMAREST, NJ — Four firefighters and police were hospitalized on Tuesday after a three-alarm fire destroyed a house in Demarest, officials said. The Demarest Fire Department said that firefighters from Creskill and Demarest sped to Woodland Road around 3:44 p.m. They found “heavy fire showing from the second floor and attic area and filled out […]

NEWPORT, Ky. — A man has been charged after allegedly spraying two firefighters with bear spray at a Newport fire station early Wednesday, according to court records. In a press release, the city of Newport says a woman with facial injuries ran into a Newport fire station around 1 a.m. to seek help. Moments later, […]

Firefighter Killed After Becoming Disoriented During High-Rise Office Building Fire – Newark, New Jersey – August 12, 1984 On August 12, 1984, Newark, New Jersey Firefighter James M. Murray was killed while fighting a three-alarm fire in a 15-story office building in the central business district of the city. Firefighter Murray, who was normally assigned […]

The greatest risk to firefighters is running into burning buildings to save someone’s life. The second biggest risk? Developing cancer from the exposure they face as part of the requirements of their job. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, due to the smoke they inhale from burning buildings and the toxins absorbed through their […]

Fire Captain Dies After Falling Through Floor into Basement During Two-Alarm Dwelling Fire – Frederick County, Maryland – August 11, 2021 – Frederick County After Action Report and Improvement Plan – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2021-14 On August 11, 2021, Captain Joshua D. Laird of the Frederick County, Maryland Division of Fire and Rescue Services […]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg firefighter who suffered a traumatic brain injury on the job says his biggest fight didn’t start at the fire scene. He says it started afterward, when the workers’ compensation system he counted on stopped paying benefits and denied the care he still needs. Tyler Vilimek’s days now look […]