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U.S. Fire Administration

Firefghter Fatalities

in the United Statesin 2010

September 2011




Mission Statement

We provide National leadership to foster a solid foundation

for local fire and emergency services for prevention,

preparedness and response.



Fireighter Fatalitiesin the United States in 2010

Prepared byU.S. Department o Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency


National Fire Data Center

and

The National Fallen Fireighters Foundation

www.irehero.org

In memory o all ireighters

who answered their last call in 2010

To their amilies and riends

To their service and sacriice

“We will never orget”

Cover photo courtesy o Rae Stewart.

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Table of ConTenTs

Acknowledgments 1

Background 1

Introduction 2

Who is a Fireighter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

What Constitutes an Onduty Fatality? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Sources o Initial Notiication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Procedure or Including a Fatality in the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2010 Findings 4

Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Agency Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Multiple Fireighter Fatality Incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Wildland Fireighting Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Type o Duty 8

Fireground Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Type o Fireground Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Fixed Property Use or Structural Fireighting Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Responding/Returning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Nonire Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Ater the Incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Cause o Fatal Injury 12

Stress or Overexertion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Vehicle Crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Lost or Disoriented. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Caught or Trapped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Struck by Object. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Fall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Nature o Fatal Injury 16

Fireighter Ages 17

Deaths by Time o Injury 18

Fireighter Fatality Incidents by Month o Year 19

State and Region 19

Analysis o Urban/Rural/Suburban Patterns in Fireighter Fatalities 24

Appendix A 25

Appendix B 61



aCknowledgmenTs

This study o reghter atalities would not have been

possible without the cooperation and assistance o

many members o the re service across the United

States. Members o individual re departments,

chie re ocers, wildland re service organizations

such as the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National

Park Service (NPS), the Bureau o Land Management

(BLM), the Bureau o Indian Aairs (BIA), the U.S.

Fish and Wildlie Service (FWS), as well as the U.S.

Department o Justice (DOJ), the National Fire Protec

tion Association (NFPA), and many others contributed

important inormation to this report.

The National Fallen Fireghters Foundation (NFFF)

was responsible or compilation o a large portion o

the data used in this report and the incident narrative

summaries ound in Appendix A.

The ultimate objective o this eort is to reduce the

number o reghter deaths through an increased

awareness and understanding o their causes and

how they can be prevented. Fireghting, rescue,and other types o emergency operations are essen

tial activities in an inherently dangerous proession,

and unortunate tragedies do occur. These are the

risks all reghters accept every time they respond

to an emergency incident. However, the risks can be

greatly reduced through eorts to improve training,

emergency scene operations, and reghter health

and saety initiatives.

baCkground

For 34 years, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has

tracked the number o reghter atalities and con

ducted an annual analysis. Through the collection o

inormation on the causes o reghter deaths, the

USFA is able to ocus on specic problems and direct

eorts toward nding solutions to reduce the number

o reghter atalities in the uture. This inormation

is also used to measure the eectiveness o current

programs directed toward reghter health and saety.

Several programs have been unded by USFA in

response to this annual report. For example, USFA

has sponsored signicant work in the areas o general

emergency vehicle operations saety, re department

tanker/tender operations saety, reghter incident

scene rehabilitation, and roadside incident saety. The

data developed or this report are also widely used in

other reghter atality prevention eorts.

One o USFA’s main program goals is a 25percent re

duction in reghter atalities in 5 years and a 50per cent reduction within 10 years. The emphasis placed

on these goals by USFA is underscored by the act that

these goals represent one o the ve major objectives

that guide the actions o USFA.

In addition to the analysis, USFA, working in part

nership with the NFFF, develops a list o all onduty

reghter atalities and associated documentation each

year. I certain criteria are met, the allen reghter’s

next o kin, as well as members o the individual’s re

department, are invited to the annual National Fallen

Fireghters Memorial Weekend Service. The service

is held at the National Emergency Training Center

(NETC) in Emmitsburg, MD, during Fire Prevention

Week in October o each year. Additional inorma

tion regarding the Memorial Service can be ound at

www.rehero.org or by calling the NFFF at

(301) 4471365.

Other resources and inormation regarding reghter

atalities, including current atality notices, the

National Fallen Fireghters Memorial database, and

links to the Public Saety Ocers’ Benet (PSOB)

Program can be ound at www.usa.dhs.gov/

reservice/atalities/


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InTroduCTIon

This report continues a series o annual studies by the

U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) o onduty reghter

atalities in the United States.

The specic objective o this study is to identiy all

onduty reghter atalities that occurred in the United

States and its protectorates in 2010 and to analyze thecircumstances surrounding each occurrence. The

study is intended to help identiy approaches that could

reduce the number o reghter deaths in uture years.

Who is a Firefighter?

For the purpose o this study, the term reghter cov

ers all members o organized re departments with

assigned re suppression duties in all 50 States, the

District o Columbia, and the Territories o Puerto

Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Com monwealth o the Northern Mariana Islands, and

Guam. It includes career and volunteer reghters;

ulltime public saety ocers acting as reghters;

re police; State, territory, and Federal government re

service personnel, including wildland reghters; and

privately employed reghters, including employees

o contract re departments and trained members o

industrial re brigades, whether ull or part time. It

also includes contract personnel working as reght

ers or assigned to work in direct support o re service

organizations (i.e., airtanker crews).

Under this denition, the study includes not only local

and municipal reghters, but also seasonal and ull

time employees o the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the

National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau o Land Man

agement (BLM), the Bureau o Indian Aairs (BIA),

the U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service (FWS), and State

wildland agencies. The denition also includes prison

inmates serving on reghting crews; reghters

employed by other governmental agencies, such as the

U.S. Department o Energy (DOE); military personnelperorming assigned re suppression activities; and

civilian reghters working at military installations.

What Constitutes an Onduty Fatality?

Onduty atalities include any injury or illness sustained

while on duty that proves atal. The term “on duty”

reers to being involved in operations at the scene o

an emergency, whether it is a re or nonre incident;

responding to or returning rom an incident; perorm

ing other ocially assigned duties such as training,

maintenance, public education, inspection, investiga

tions, court testimony, and undraising; and being on

call, under orders, or on standby duty except at the

individual’s home or place o business. An individual

who experiences a heart attack or other atal injury

at home while he or she prepares to respond to an

emergency is considered on duty when the response

begins. A reghter that becomes ill while perorm

ing re department duties and suers a heart attack

shortly ater arriving home or at another location may

be considered on duty since the inception o the heart

attack occurred while the reghter was on duty.

On December 15, 2003, the President o the United

States signed into law the Hometown Heroes

Survivors Benet Act o 2003. Ater being signed

by the President, the Act became Public Law

108182. The law presumes that a heart attack

or stroke are in the line o duty i the reghter

was engaged in nonroutine stressul or strenuous

physical activity while on duty and the reghter

becomes ill while on duty or within 24 hours

ater engaging in such activity. The ull text o the

law is available at http://rwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_

laws&docid=:publ182.108.pd

The inclusion criteria or this study have been aected

by this change in the law. Previous to December 15,

2003, reghters who became ill as the result o a

heart attack or stroke ater going o duty needed to

register a complaint o not eeling well while still on

duty in order to be included in this study. For re

ghter atalities ater December 15, 2003, reghters

will be included in this report i they became ill as theresult o a heart attack or stroke within 24 hours o a

training activity or emergency response. Fireghters

who became ill ater going o duty where the activi

ties while on duty were limited to tasks that did not

involve physical or mental stress will not be included.

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A atality may be caused directly by an accidental or

intentional injury in either emergency or nonemer

gency circumstances, or it may be attributed to an oc

cupationally related atal illness. A common example

o a atal illness incurred on duty is a heart attack. Fa

talities attributed to occupational illnesses also include

a communicable disease contracted while on duty that

proved atal when the disease could be attributed to a

documented occupational exposure.

Fireghter atalities are included in this report even

when death is considerably delayed ater the original

incident. When the incident and the death occur in

dierent years, the analysis counts the atality as having

occurred in the year in which the incident took place.

There is no established mechanism or identiying

atalities that result rom illnesses such as cancer that

develop over long periods o time and which may be

related to occupational exposure to hazardous materi als or toxic products o combustion. It has proved to

be very dicult to provide a complete evaluation o

an occupational illness as a causal actor in reghter

deaths due to the ollowing limitations: the expo

sure o reghters to toxic hazards is not suciently

tracked; the oten delayed longterm eects o such

toxic hazard exposures; and the exposures reghters

may receive while o duty.

Sources of Initial Notification

As an integral part o its ongoing program to collect

and analyze re data, the USFA solicits inormation on

reghter atalities directly rom the re service and

rom a wide range o other sources. These sources

include the Public Saety Ocers’ Benet (PSOB)

Program administered by the U.S. Department o

Justice (DOJ), the National Institute or Occupational

Saety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Saety

and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department o

Deense (DOD), the National Interagency Fire Center

(NIFC), and other Federal agencies.

The USFA receives notication o some deaths directly

rom re departments, as well as rom such re ser

vice organizations as the International Association o

Fire Chies (IAFC), the International Association o Fire

Fighters (IAFF), the National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC),

State re marshals, State re training organizations,

other State and local organizations, re service Internet

sites, news services, and re service publications.

Procedure for Including a Fatality in

the Study

In most cases, ater notication o a atal incident,

initial telephone contact is made with local authoritiesby the USFA to veriy the incident, its location, juris

diction, and the re department or agency involved.

Further inormation about the deceased reghter and

the incident may be obtained rom the chie o the

re department, designee over the phone, or by other

orms o data collection. Ater basic inormation is

collected, a notice o the reghter atality is posted at

the National Fallen Fireghters Memorial site in Em

mitsburg, MD, the USFA website, and a notice o the

atality is transmitted by electronic mail to a large list

o re service organizations and re service members.

Inormation that is routinely requested rom re

departments that have experienced a atality includes

National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)1

(incident) and NFIRS3 (re service casualty) re

ports; the re department’s own incident and inter

nal investigation reports; copies o death certicates

and autopsy results; special investigative reports; law

enorcement reports; photographs and diagrams; and

newspaper or media accounts o the incident. Inor

mation on the incident may also be gathered romNFPA or NIOSH reports.

Ater obtaining this inormation, a determination

is made as to whether the death qualies as an on

duty reghter atality according to the previously

described criteria. With the exception o reghter

deaths ater December 15, 2003, the same criteria

were used or this study as in previous annual stud

ies. Additional inormation may be requested by

USFA, either through ollowup with the re depart

ment directly, rom State vital records oces, or otheragencies. The nal determination as to whether a

atality qualies as an onduty death or inclusion in

this statistical analysis is made by the USFA and the

Foundation’s criteria as a lineoduty death (LODD)

or inclusion in the annual National Fallen Fireght

ers Memorial Service is made by the National Fallen

Fireghters Foundation (NFFF).

3



2010 fIndIngs

Eightyseven reghters died while on duty in 2010,

continuing a second year o substantially ewer re

ghter deaths in the United States, where, during the

previous 6year period o 2004–2009, the average

number o annual onduty reghter deaths was 112.

The 2010 total includes 15 reghters who died undercircumstances as a result o inclusion criteria changes

resulting rom the Hometown Heroes Act o 2003.

When not including these atalities in a trend analysis,

the 2010 total o 72 reghter atalities was the lowest

number o reghter losses on record over the past

34 years.

An analysis o multiyear reghter atality trends

needs to acknowledge the changes rom the Home

town Heroes Survivors Benet Act o 2003; thereore,

some graphs and charts either will or will not indicate

the Hometown Heroes portion o the total. However,

this does not diminish the sacrices made by any re

ghter who dies while on duty or the sacrices made

by his/her amily and peers.

Moreover, when conducting multiyear comparisons o

reghter atalities in this report, the losses that were

the result o the attacks on the World Trade Center

(WTC) in New York City on September 11, 2001,

are sometimes also set apart or illustrative purposes.

This action is by no means a minimization o the

supreme sacrice made by these reghters.

Figure 1 Onduty Fireighter Fatalities (1977–2010)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 9

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 5

2 0 0 4

2 0 0 3

2 0 0 2

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 0

1 9 9 9

1 9 9 8

1 9 9 7

1 9 9 6

1 9 9 5

1 9 9 4

1 9 9 3

1 9 9 2

1 9 9 1

1 9 9 0

1 9 8 9

1 9 8 8

1 9 8 7

1 9 8 6

1 9 8 5

1 9 8 4

1 9 8 3

1 9 8 2

1 9 8 1

1 9 8 0

1 9 7 9

1 9 7 8

1 9 7 7

1 5 7 1

7 1

1 2 6

1 4 0

1 3 5

1 2 6

1 1 3

1 1 9

1 2 6

1 2 1

1 3 1

1 3 6

1 1 9

1 0 8

1 0 8

7 7 8

1 1 0 6

1 0 3

1 0 0

1 0 0

9 3 1

1 4

1 0 5

4 5 2

1 0 1

Year

N u m b e r o f D e a t h s

1 1 2

1 0 8

9 9

9 2

1 0 6

1 0 8

7 8

7 2

p l u s 1 H o m

e t o w n H e r o

p l u s 1 1 H o

m e t o w n H e r o e s

p l u s 1 6 H o


p l u s 1 5 H o


p l u s 1 3 H o


p l u s 1 2 H o


p l u s 1 3 H o


p l u s 1 5 H o




Figure 2 Firefighter Fatalities per 100,000 Fires

Year

N u m b e r

o f D e a t h s

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

2 0 0 9

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 5

2 0 0 4

2 0 0 3

2 0 0 2

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 0

1 9 9 9

1 9 9 8

1 9 9 7

1 9 9 6

2 . 7 3

3 . 3 4

2

. 9 6

4 . 5 0

3 . 3 4

3 . 2 9 3

. 7 3

3 . 7 9

3 . 4 2

2 . 8 1

2

. 9 8

3 . 5 3 3

. 8 6

2 .

9 7 *

*2010 ratio will be included in the 2011 report.

Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Agency DeathsIn 2010, frefghter atalities included 56 volunteer frefghters, 28 career frefghters, and three part-time or ull-

time members o wildland or wildland contract fre agencies (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Agency Deaths (2010)

Firefighter Fatalities87 Total Deaths

Volunteer

56 Deaths

Wildland Agency

3 Deaths

Career

28 Deaths

Full time

2 Deaths

Part time or

Seasonal

1 Death

Rural Fire

Departments

39 Deaths

Urban/Suburban

Fire Departments

17 Deaths

Rural Fire

Departments5 Death

Urban/Suburban

Fire Departments

23 Deaths

Gender

All o the frefghters who died while on duty in 2010

were male. This is the frst year since 1998 where no

emale frefghters were killed while on duty. During

the previous decade, 2000–2009, there were an aver-

age o our emale, and not including WTC, 106 male

onduty frefghter deaths per year.

Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents

The 87 deaths in 2010 resulted rom a total o 83 atal

incidents. There were our frefghter atality inci-

dents where two frefghters were killed in each in

2010, claiming a total o eight frefghters.



Table 1 Multiple Fireighter Fatality Incidents

Year Number of Incidents Total Number of Deaths

2010 4 8

2009 6 13

2008 5 18

2007 7 21

2006 6 17

2005 4 10

2004 3 6

2003 7 20

2002 9 25

2001 8 362

2001 w/o WTC 7 18

Wildland Firefighting Deaths total includes parttime and seasonal wildland re

ghters, ulltime wildland reghters, and municipalIn 2010, 11 reghters were killed during activities

or volunteer reghters whose deaths are related to ainvolving brush, grass, or wildland reghting. This wildland re (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Fireighter Fatalities Related to Wildland Fireighting (2001–2010)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

15

23

29

21

19

22

11 11

26

16 N u m b e r o f

D e a t h s

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 2

2 0 0 3

2 0 0 4

2 0 0 5

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 9

2 0 1 0

Year



Table 2 Wildland Fireighting Aircrat Deaths

Year Total Number of Deaths Number of Fatal Incidents

2010 0 0

2009 5 3

2008 16 4

2007 1 1

2006 8 3

2005 6 2

2004 3 3

2003 7 4

2002 6 3

2001 6 3

In 2010, there were no multiple reghter atality incidents related to wildland reghting and, or the rst time

since 1999, no wildland reghter deaths related to aircrat.

Table 3 Fireighter Deaths Associated with Wildland Fireighting

YearTotal Number

of Deaths

Number of

Fatal Incidents

Number of Firefighters

Killed in Multiple-Death

Incidents

2010 11 11 0

2009 16 13 5

2008 26 15 14

2007 11 11 0

2006 22 13 13

2005 19 15 6

2004 21 21 02003 30 22 10

2002 23 14 13

2001 15 9 9



Type of duTy

Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in

the deaths o 48 reghters in 2010 (Figure 5). This

includes all reghters who died responding to an

emergency or at an emergency scene, returning rom

an emergency incident, and during other emergency

related activities. Nonemergency activities accounted

or 39 atalities. Nonemergency duties include train

ing, administrative activities, perorming other unc

tions that are not related to an emergency incident, and

postincident atalities where the reghter does not

experience the illness or injury during the emergency.

Figure 5 Fireighter Deaths by Type o Duty (2010)

Emergency 55.2% (48)

Nonemergency 44.8% (39)

A multiyear historical perspective relating to the percentage o reghter deaths that occurred during emergency

duty is presented in Table 4.

Table 4 Emergency Duty Fireighter Deaths

Year Percentage of All DeathsPercentage of All Deaths

Without Hometown Heroes

2010 55.2 66.7

2009 63.3 82.2

2008 63.5 70.0

2007 64.4 72.4

2006 57.5 66.3

2005 52.1 60.6

2004 68.9 75.9

2003 69.0 69.6

2002 73.0 N/A

2001 65.0 N/A

2001 with WTC 92.0 N/A

2000 71.0 N/A

1999 87.0 N/A

1998 77.0 N/A



The number o deaths by type o duty being per years, reground duties are the most common type o

ormed in 2010 is shown in Table 5 and presented duty or reghters killed while on duty.

graphically in Figure 6. As has been the case or most

Table 5 Fireighter Deaths by Type o Duty (2010)

Type of Duty Number of Deaths

Fireground Operations 22

Other Onduty Deaths 18Responding 15

Returning 1

Training 12

Onscene Nonfire Emergencies 4

After 15

Total 87

Figure 6 Fireighter Deaths by Type o Duty (2010)

Fireground Operations

Other Onduty

Responding

Returning

Training

Onscene Nonfire

Emergencies

After an Incident

22

18

15

1

12

4

15

0 10 20 30 40

Number of Deaths

Fireground Operations

O the 22 reghters killed during reground op

erations in 2010, 14 were at the scene o a structure

re, and 8 others were at the scene o a wildland or

outside re. The average age o the reghters killed

during reground operations was 45, hal o whomwere rom career re departments, just under hal

(10) rom volunteer re departments, and one re

ghter rom a wildland agency.

Type of Fireground Activity

Table 6 shows the types o reground activities in

which reghters were engaged at the time they

sustained their atal injuries or illnesses. This total

includes all reghting duties, such as wildland re

ghting and structural reghting.



Table 6 Type o Activity (2010)

Water Supply 1

Pump Ops 1

Search & Rescue 3

Advance Hoselines 10

Other 2

Unknown 4

Incident Command 1

Fixed Property Use for Structural Firefighting Deaths

There were 14 atalities in 2010 where reghters became ill or injured while on the scene o a structure re.

Table 7 shows the distribution o these deaths by xed property use.

Table 7 Structural Fireighting Deaths by Fixed Property Use in 2010

Residential 8

Commercial 6

Responding/Returning

Sixteen reghters died while responding to or re

turning rom 15 emergency incidents in 2010. Fiteen

o the reghters died while responding to incidents

and one while returning rom an incident.

Nine o the reghters killed while responding to inci

dents died rom heart attacks (eight) or a stroke (one).

Six o the reghters who died while responding

to incidents were killed by trauma caused by motorvehicle collisions, including three in privatelyowned

vehicles (POVs) and three in re department appara

tus. O the POV crashes taking a reghter’s lie, one

occurred on an allterrain vehicle (ATV) that struck

a deer. No helmet and alcohol, the only 2010 inci

dent where alcohol was reported to be involved, were

contributing actors in the death. In the two other

separate POV incidents, seat restraints were present in

both vehicles. One reghter was wearing them and

one was not; the latter ully ejected rom the vehicle.

O the three reghters killed in re department ap

paratus involved in motor vehicle collisions, two were

not wearing seat restraints and ully ejected when

their engine was struck at an intersection by a sport

utility vehicle (SUV). The third reghter killed, who

was belted in and not ejected rom the vehicle, was

operating a semitrailer truck hauling a D5 Caterpillar

plow that did not successully negotiate a curve. As aresult o the accident, the reghter became trapped

in the cab o the truck and was pronounced dead at

the scene.

The one reghter killed while returning rom an

incident was crushed between a moving tanker and a

parked apparatus as the tanker backed into the sta

tion’s apparatus bay.

1



Table 8 Fireighter Deaths While Responding to or Returning rom an Incident

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2010 16

2009 15

2008 24

2007 26

2006 15

2005 22

2004 23

2003 36

2002 13

2001 23

Training In 2010, 12 reghters died while engaged in training

activities. Seven o the deaths were due to heart at

tacks, two rom cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), and

one rom a documented case o necrotizing asciitis

(commonly known as fesh eating disease). An ad

ditional two reghters were killed in a POV while

they were returning rom a re certication class at

a local community college. These reghters were

apparently involved in street racing with reghters inanother vehicle.

Table 9 Fireighter Fatalities While Engaged in Training

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2010 12

2009 10

2008 12

2007 11

2006 9

2005 14

2004 13

2003 12

2002 11

2001 14

Nonfire Emergencies

In 2010, there were two re police and two reghter

atalities where the type o emergency duty was not

related to a re. One re police was struck and killed

by a vehicle while perorming scene saety duties at

the scene o a motor vehicle accident. Another re

police suered a heart attack ater establishing a medi

vac helispot to evacuate a patient rom an emergency

medical services (EMS) incident. The two reghters

both died rom asphyxiation in separate incidents.

The rst reghter was part o a threeperson crew in

a boat and actively engaged in rescue operations when

the boat was captured by strong currents, struck a

bridge, and capsized. The second reghter died as a

result o oxygen deprivation in a sewer system man

hole while he attempted to rescue a member o the

town’s Department o Public Works (DPW) who hadlost consciousness ater descending the interior ladder

and alling to the bottom.

After the Incident

In 2010, 15 reghters died ater the conclusion

o their onduty activity. All 15 deaths were due to

heart attacks.

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Cause of faTal Injury

The term “cause o injury” reers to the action, lack o action, or circumstances that directly resulted in theatal injury. The term “nature o injury” reers to themedical cause o the atal injury or illness which isoten reerred to as the physiological cause o death.A atal injury is usually the result o a chain o events,

the rst o which is recorded as the cause.

In 2010, one reghter was reported to have committed suicide while on duty.

Figure 7 shows the distribution o deaths by cause o

atal injury or illness in 2010.

Figure 7 Fatalities by Cause o Fatal Injury (2010)

55 (63.2%)

3 (3.5%)

11 (12.6%)

5 (5.8%)

3 (3.4%)

5 (5.8%)

1 (1.1%)

4 (4.6%)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Number of Fatalities

Stress/Overexertion

Collapse

Vehicle Collision

Struck by

Other

Caught/Trapped

Fall

Lost

Stress or Overexertion

Fireghting is extremely strenuous physical work andis likely one o the most physically demanding activi ties that the human body perorms.

Stress or overexertion is a general category that in cludes all reghter deaths that are cardiac or cerebro vascular in nature such as heart attacks, strokes, andother events such as extreme climatic thermal expo

sure. Classication o a reghter atality in this causeo atal injury category does not necessarily indicatethat a reghter was in poor physical condition.

Fityve reghters died in 2010 as a result o stress/overexertion:

• Fity ireighters died due to heart attacks.

• Five ireighters died due to CVAs.

Table 10 Deaths Caused by Stress or Overexertion

Year Number Percent of Fata

2010 55 63.2

2009 50 55.5

2008 52 44.0

2007 55 46.62006 54 50.9

2005 62 53.9

2004 66 56.4

2003 51 45.9**

2002 38 38.0

2001 43 40.9*

*Does not include the firefighter deaths of September 11, 2001, in New York City. **Includes Hometown Heroes, one in December 2003, and an average of 13.4 for the years 2004–2010.

1



Vehicle Crashes

Eleven reghters died in 2010 as the result o ve hicle crashes, down 31 percent rom vehicle crashesin 2009 and almost 61 percent rom 2008. In 2010,there were no reghter deaths that involved aircrat.

In addition to the responding/returning rom an inci dent and trainingrelated vehicle crash atalities earlier

in this report, there were two additional vehiclecrashes that killed reghters in 2010:

• While on scene o a mutualaid wildland ire call,a nontraic vehicle (snowcat) ascended a hill, losttraction, and began to tumble down the slope,killing the operator as it rolled more than threetimes. Another ireighter was ejected rom thesnowcat but survived the accident.

• A wildland crew carrier, with as many as 12 ire ighters in the vehicle, was struck by an oncom ing SUV that had crossed over the center line o the highway. Several ireighters were ejected inthe crash and a number received severe injuries,including one who died rom his injuries.

Figure 8 Fireighter Fatalities in Vehicle Collisions

N u m b e r o f D

e a t h s

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

22

17

11

21 21

24

34

20

25

19

27 28

16

11

1 9 9 7

1 9 9 8

1 9 9 9

2 0 0 0

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 2

2 0 0 3

2 0 0 4

2 0 0 5

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 9

2 0 1 0

Lost or Disoriented

One reghter died in 2010 when he became lost ordisoriented inside o a burning residential structurewhile searching or an elderly couple and ater hav ing rescued their dog, was reported to still be insideo a burning residential structure. Rapid Interven tion Team (RIT) crews were assigned and searchedthe structure or the reghter. Ater approximately10 minutes o searching by multiple crews, he waslocated in a small room behind a closed door. Investi gation revealed that the reghter had become ill andvomited into his selcontained breathing apparatus(SCBA) acepiece. When he was ound, he was lying

on his back without his helmet, gloves, and acepiece.His death was caused by smoke inhalation.

Caught or Trapped

Five reghters were killed in 2010 in our separateincidents when they became caught or trapped. Thisclassication covers reghters trapped in wildlandand structural res who were unable to escape due to

rapid re progression and the byproducts o smoke,heat, toxic gases, and fame. This classication also

includes reghters who drowned and those whowere trapped and crushed.

• Fireighters conducting search activities in a resi dential structure observed ire advancement andyelled to the hoseline crew to evacuate. Onceireighters exited, they ound that two ireighterswere still in the structure. Fire conditions insidehad dramatically changed. One ireighter wasable to make it to within a ew eet o the door ashe was pulled rom the structure by other ire ighters. Fireighters entered the structure with ahoseline to search or the other missing ireighter.He was ound wrapped up in the ruptured 21/2inch handline and, although wearing his acepiecewhen he entered the structure, was not wearinghis acepiece, hood, or helmet. The ireighter wasremoved rom the structure, treated by other ire ighters, and transported to the hospital by ambu lance, but did not survive.

1



• One ireighter and his engine company arrivedapproximately 20 minutes ater dispatch andound a working ire in a large egg production andprocessing acility. Two ireighters advanced anattack line into the structure but became separatedrom the hoseline and then rom each other in theinterior. One ireighter was able to ind a metalexterior wall and banged on it until ireighters

on the exterior were able to cut open the wall toallow his escape. The ire progressed and attemptsto locate the second ireighter were unsuccessul.He died o thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

• Upon their arrival at the scene, ireighters oundan active ire on the second loor o a residentialstructure. Two ireighters were assigned to goto the third loor o the building to look or ireextension and to search or victims. When bothireighters, who were wearing ull structural

protective clothing, including SCBAs, arrived onthe third loor, one ireighter reported stableconditions by radio to the Incident Commander(IC) and requested that a hoseline be brought tothe loor. A ew moments later, the IC observedsmoke coming rom the third loor and attemptedto contact the ireighter by radio to no avail. TheIC ordered an evacuation o the building by allireighters in order to account or everyone on thescene. In the process o the evacuation, ireight ers were observed on the third loor in distress.

The RIT was deployed to the third loor orrescue. Both ireighters were ound unconsciousby ireighters and brought to the exterior o thebuilding. Fireighters and emergency respondersimmediately began to provide medical treatmentor both ireighters and they were transported tothe hospital but did not survive their injuries. Au topsies and toxicological studies showed that bothdied o smoke inhalation suered as they oughtthe structure ire.

• Fireighters were requested to assist Department o Public Works (DPW) employees with access to asewer system manhole behind their ire station. ADPW employee entered the manhole and lost con sciousness as he descended the interior ladder andell to the bottom. The DPW oreperson requestedassistance rom ireighters. The ire chie askeddispatch or EMS assistance and also started a ire

department incident. As an atmospheric meterrom the ire department was prepared or use, aireighter entered the opening. He was not wear ing a SCBA or harness. When the ireighter washalway down the ladder, he lost consciousnessand ell to the bottom. Additional resources werecalled to the scene and both the ireighter and theDPW employee were removed rom the opening;

both died o asphyxiation due to an oxygen dei cient atmosphere.

Collapse

Three reghters died in 2010 as a result o struc

tural collapses in two separate commercial property

re incidents.

• Fireighters ound a working ire in an oice

building and initiated an interior attack. Fireight

ers ound ire in the attic o the structure and

began to evacuate the interior. Approximately 30minutes into the ire ight, two ireighters were

operating a handline on the exterior o the struc

ture when a collapse occurred. One ireighter

was trapped in debris and was removed by other

ireighters using hydraulic tools. He was trans

ported to a local hospital and was treated or crush

and thermal injuries. He was transported to a re

gional hospital and then to a care acility where he

died almost 5 months later rom injuries sustained

• A small, intentionallyset rubbish ire had been

quickly extinguished with tank water and exten

sion into the trusses was ruled out in a vacant

commercial building. The east wall (sector 4 side)

o the structure had three large wire glass metal

ramed industrialtype windows. Fireighters

began removing these windows to provide a quick

means o egress or ireighters working within

the structure. As the southernmost window on

the east wall was removed, it is theorized that the

entire east wall ailed. The east wall was a bear ing wall which supported the weight o two heavy

timber bowstring trusses. The ailure o the east

wall caused total collapse o the bowstring truss

roo and pushed out the sector 3 wall. Sixteen

ireighters became trapped and injured in the col

lapse. Two ireighters passed away rom injuries

sustained in this incident.

1



Struck by Object Being struck by an object was the cause o ve atalreghter injuries in 2010.

• One ire police was working scene saety andtraic control services or a mutualaid motorvehicle crash with entrapment and wires down.He parked his vehicle on the side o the road with

its warning lights in operation and set cones and alare in the roadway to warn approaching drivers.A civilian vehicle disregarded the road closure,drove over cones, and struck the ire police oicer.He was transported to the hospital but was pro nounced dead upon arrival.

• One ireighter was clearing a ire break orcontainment at the base o a blu when a burn ing snag broke loose on top and rolled downhillover a small blu, striking him rom behind. The

ireighter sustained a serious head injury, rac tured hip, bruises, and seconddegree burns on hiscalves. The impact let him unconscious and withserious injuries, including the burns rom whichhe did not recover.

• One ireighter was staing a brush truck whileighting a wildland ire when the water tank onthe brush truck ailed under pressure and theireighter was struck in the chest by a piece o the tank. The ireighter was killed as a result o

trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.• A ireighter/mechanic was making steering

system repairs to a brush truck inside o theire department’s maintenance building. As themechanic turned the key to unlock the steer ing column, the brush truck accidentally lungedorward. At the same time the brush truck lungedorward, two ireighters were walking in ront o the vehicle. One o the ireighters was knockedclear but the other was crushed between the brushtruck and a wall. He received a head injury and

died instantly rom his injuries.

• Two engine companies were dispatched to a irein the median o a local highway. Upon arrival,engine personnel positioned their apparatus ina shielding position to protect ireighters romtraic. As ireighters were extinguishing the ire,

a vehicle crash occurred on the highway behindthe apparatus. The crash caused one o the vehicles to slide between the guardrail and one o the engines. The vehicle entered the ire sceneand struck two ireighters. Both ireighters weretransported to the hospital but one o them died

due to traumatic injuries.

Fall Four reghters died in 2010 as the result o alls.

• Ater a ireighter had closed and latched the doorsat the top o a burning grain silo, he ell 20–30eet when an explosion occurred inside o the silo.The ireighter was transported to the hospital byambulance but was pronounced dead at the hospi tal due to traumatic injuries.

• A ireighter working instation duties experienced

a all. Fireighters treated him or a cut on hishead and recommended that he go to the hospitalto be checked. Later that night, they checked ontheir ellow ireighter in the hospital and oundhim in better condition than beore. The ire ighter, however, later took a turn or the worseand died rom the head injury received in the allat the ire station.

• A ireighter and his ladder company were dis patched to a structural ire in a ourstory commer cial and residential structure. Upon their arrival,ireighters observed smoke and sparks comingrom a cooking exhaust an chute. The ireighterascended a ladder attached to the side o the build ing to gain access to the roo. He was wearing ullstructural ireighting protective clothing, including SCBA. He also carried a water ire extinguisherwith him as he climbed. When the ireighterreached the roo, he lost his grip and ell 53 eet tothe ground. The ireighter was severely injured inthe all and was treated by ireighters and trans

ported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead atthe hospital due to multiple injuries.

• Members o a ire department were working onthe construction o a new ire station to replace onethat had been destroyed by ire. One ireighterdied rom injuries received on the worksite when

he ell backwards and struck his head on concrete.

1



Other

Three reghters died in 2010 o a cause that is not

categorized above.

• One ireighter was struck by an Amtrak train.

State police, along with Amtrak police and the city,

investigated the circumstances surrounding the

death. No oul play was suspected.

• One ireighter was a part o a threeperson crew

in a boat and actively engaged in rescue operations

when it was captured by strong currents, struck a

bridge, and capsized.

• During the course o a training exercise, a ire

ighter struck his elbow on a portion o the body

o an engine as he removed SCBA cylinders or use

in the training. He noted his injury to other ire

ighters but thought that it was insigniicant. The

ireighter signed out o training but approximate

ly 6 hours later awoke and began vomiting. He

was also experiencing pain is his injured elbow.

An ambulance was called. Arriving EMS respond

ers treated the incident as a cardiac event based

on symptoms and transported him to the hospital.

The ireighter was diagnosed as suering romnecrotizing asciitis (commonly known as lesh

eating disease). He underwent multiple surgeries

to attempt to control the spread o the disease and

was transerred to a burn unit or treatment. The

ireighter underwent a total o 18 operations dur

ing 79 days in the hospital. Although his condi

tion seemed to improve or a time, he died as a

result o complications related to the injury.

naTure of faTal Injury

Figure 9 shows the distribution o the 87 reghter

deaths that occurred in 2010 by the medical nature o

the atal injury or illness. For heart attacks, Figure 10

shows the type o duty involved.

The National Institute or Occupational Saety and

Health’s (NIOSH’s) Fire Fighter Fatality Investiga-tion and Prevention Program (http://www.cdc.

gov/niosh/re/) is the leading resource in the

world or investigations and ocused reports on

reghter atality incidents in the United States

o America.

Figure 9 Fatalities by Nature o Fatal Injury (2010)

1

CVA 5 (5.7%)Crushed 3 (3.5%)Trauma 20 (23.0%)

Heart Attack 50 (57.5%)

Other 2 (2.3%)

Asphyxiation 7 (8.0%)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Number of Deaths



1

Figure 10 Heart Attacks by Type of Duty (2010)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Onscene Nonfire

Training

Responding

Other On Duty

After

Onscene Fire 7

Number of Deaths

15

12

8

7

1

NIOSH: Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events

[PDF - 1,134 KB]

fIrefIghTer ages

Figure 11 shows the percentage distribution o fre-

fghter deaths by age and nature o the atal injury.

Table 11 provides a count o frefghter atalities by age

and the nature o the atal injury.

Younger frefghters were more likely to have died as

a result o traumatic injuries, such as injuries rom

an apparatus accident or becoming caught or trapped

during frefghting operations. Stress-related deaths

are rare below the 31 to 35 years o age category and,

when they occur, oten include underlying medi-

cal conditions.

Figure 11 Fatalities by Age and Nature (2010)

0

20

40

60

80

100

61 andover

51 to 6046 to 5041 to 4536 to 4031 to 3526 to 3021 to 25Under21

Trauma/Asphyxiation

Heart Attack/CVA

1 0 0 %

1 0 0 %

1 0 0 %

6 7 %

2 9 %

0 %

1 0 0 %

7 1 %

3 3 %

0 %

0 %

0 %

7 8 %

7 7 %

2 2 %

7

3 %

2 7 %

2 3 %

Firefighter Ages

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-133/pdfs/2007-133.pdf






Table 11 Fireighter Ages and Nature o Fatal Injury (2010)

Age Range Heart Attack/CVA/Other Trauma/Asphyxiation Total

under 21 0 2

21 to 25 0 5

26 to 30 0 4

31 to 35 2 4

36 to 40 5 2

41 to 45 4 0

46 to 50 8 3

51 to 60 18 4

61 and over 20 6

In 2010, there were no teenage reghters killed while on duty in the United States or the rst time since

1993. The two youngest reghters to die in 2010 were both age 20. Both reghters were killed in separate

incidents involving POV crashes. One reghter was responding to a atal motor vehicle accident on a lo-cal highway. As he approached the scene, the reghter, who was not wearing seat restraints, lost control o

his pickup truck, struck a guardrail, rolled, and was ejected. The second 20-year-old reghter died while

returning rom training and riding as a passenger in a car that crashed traveling at high speed while involved

in street racing against other reghters in another vehicle. The accident also claimed the lie o another

reghter (driver) and a private citizen riding in another vehicle in the opposite lane o travel who died rom

injuries nearly 2 weeks later.

The oldest reghter killed on duty in 2010 was 86. Operating as re police, he suered a heart attack ater

establishing a medivac helispot to evacuate a patient rom an EMS incident.

deaThs by TIme of Injury

The distribution o 2010 reghter deaths according illustrated in Figure 12. The time o atal injury or

to the time o day when the atal injury occurred is our reghters was either unknown or not reported.

Figure 12 Fatalities by Time o Fatal Injury (2010)

2300 - 0059

2100 - 2259

1900 - 2059

1700 - 1859

1500 - 1659

1300 - 1459

1100 - 1259

0900 - 1059

0700 - 0859

0500 - 0659

0300 - 0459

0100 - 0259 3

1

7

7

10

18

11

11

7

2

0

6

T i

m e

0 5 10 15 20

Number of Deaths

1



fIrefIghTer faTalITy InCIdenTs by monTh of year

Figure 13 illustrates the 2010 reghter atalities by month o the year.

Figure 13 Deaths by Month o Year (2010)

M o n t h o f Y e a r

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

4

4

6

6

6

6

8

7

8

10

11

11

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Number of Deaths

sTaTe and regIon

The distribution o reghter deaths in 2010 by State

is shown in Table 12. Fireghters based in 31 States

died in 2010.

The highest number o reghter deaths, based on

the location o the re service organization in 2010,

occurred in Illinois with nine deaths. New York and

Ohio had the next highest totals o reghter atalitiesin 2010, with eight reghter deaths each, respectively.

Table 12 Fireighter Fatalities by State by Location o Fire Service* (2010)

State Fatalities Percentage

OH 8 9

AR 3 3

NY 8 9

MS 1 1

KY 3 3

ID 1 1

KS 5 5

PA 7 8

DE 1 1

ME 1 1

CT 4 4

WV 1 1

1



State Fatalities Percentage

NC 3 3

AZ 2 2

IL 9 10

MO 2 2

IA 1 1

OK 1 1

WI 1 1

NJ 2 2

GA 2 2

WA 1 1

SC 3 3

TX 2 2

VT 1 1

MA 2 2

VA 3 3

CA 3 3

IN 4 4

TN 1 1

MI 1 1

OH 8 9

*This list attributes the deaths according to the State in which the fire department or unit is based, as opposed to the State in which the

death occurred. They are listed by those States for statistical purposes and for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National

Emergency Training Center (NETC). Due to rounding, percentage totals may not add up to 100.

2



Figure 14 Fireighter Fatalities by Region (2010)

2 t 1 - s

W e 4

C a r e e r - e

e r

V o l u n t

W i l d l a n d -

7 - a l

o t T

a l

C e n t r

9 1 1 4 -

t h 1

o r

N C a r e e r - e

e r

V o l u n t

W i l d l a n d -

3 4

- a l

o t T

t

t h e a s

9 1 -

7

o r

N

C a r e e r - e

e r

2 6

V o l u

n t -

a

l

o t T

6

S o u t h 1 1 -

3

C a

r e e r - e

e r

V o l u n t

W i l d l a n d -

2 0

- a l

o t T

2



Figure 15 Onduty Fireighter Fatalities 2010 by Fire Department Location

2



Figure 16 Onduty Fireighter Fatalities 2010 by Incident Location

2



analysIs of urban/rural/suburban paTTerns In

fIrefIghTer faTalITIes

The U.S. Census Bureau denes “urban” as a place

having a population o at least 2,500 or lying within a

designated urban area. “Rural” is dened as any com

munity that is not urban. “Suburban” is not a census

term but may be taken to reer to any place, urban or

rural, that lies within a metropolitan area dened by

the Census Bureau, but not within one o the central

cities o that metropolitan area.

Fire department areas o responsibility do not always

conorm to the boundaries used by the Census Bu

reau. For example, re departments organized by

counties or special re protection districts may have

both urban and rural coverage areas. In such cases,

where it may not be possible to characterize the entire

coverage area o the re department as rural or urban,

reghter deaths were listed as urban or rural based

on the particular community or location in which the

atality occurred.

The ollowing patterns were ound or 2010 re

ghter atalities. These statistics are based on answers

rom the re departments and, when no data rom

the departments were available, the data were based

upon population and area served as reported by the

re departments.

Table 13 Fireighter Deaths by Coverage Area Type (2010)

Urban/Suburban Rural Total

Firefighter Deaths 40 47 87

2



2

appendIx a

In memory o all frefghterswho answered their last call in 2010

To their amilies and riends

To their service and sacrifce



2

January 2, 2010–1827 hrs

Joseph Mack McCafferty, LieutenantAge 59, Career • Lancaster Fire Department, Ohio

Lieutenant McCaerty and the members o his re department were dispatched at 1727 hours to a structure re ina twostory woodrame apartment building. On arrival, reghters on the scene reported a working re.

Lieutenant McCaerty was in command o the incident. At approximately 1827 hours, Lieutenant McCaertytold a reghter/paramedic that he had a severe headache, back and neck pain, and that he elt nauseous. He wasassisted to an ambulance on scene by other reghters. In the ambulance, his condition worsened and he wastransported to a local hospital.

Lieutenant McCaerty was treated at the local hospital and then transported to a regional hospital. He died on January 16, 2010. The cause o death was a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Lieutenant McCaerty was the rstlineoduty death (LODD) or the Lancaster Fire Department in its 117year history.


David Allen Curlin, LieutenantAge 40, Career • Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services, Arkansas

Lieutenant Curlin and the members o his re department were dispatched to a re in a commercial occupancy

at 0445 hours. Fireghters ound a working re in an oce building and initiated an interior attack. Fireghtersound re in the attic o the structure and began to evacuate the interior.

Approximately 30 minutes into the re ght, Lieutenant Curlin and another reghter were operating a handlineon the exterior o the structure when a collapse occurred. Lieutenant Curlin was trapped in debris and was re moved by other reghters using hydraulic tools. He was transported to a local hospital and was treated or crushand thermal injuries. He was transported to a regional hospital and then to a care acility. He died on May 22,2010. Lieutenant Curlin’s death was a result o the injuries he received on January 3, 2010.



2


LeRoy Arthur Kemp, Fireghter/Past Chief Age 81, Volunteer • Tioga Center Fire Department, New York

Fireghter Kemp was at home when his re department was dispatched to an emergency medical incident in a neigh boring town. Fireghter Kemp responded rom home in his personal vehicle with his emergency light in operation.

As he responded, Fireghter Kemp came upon the scene o an earlier trac crash involving a reuse vehicle. Fireght er Kemp was unable to stop in time and struck the rear o the reuse vehicle. He was killed instantly in the crash.

January 14, 2010–1315 hrs Jerry W. Thompson, Fireghter

Age 55, Volunteer • Linwood Volunteer Fire Department, Mississippi

Fireghter Thompson was engaged in overhaul duties at the scene o a re in a manuactured home when he su

ered a heart attack. He was treated at the scene by reghters and emergency medical services (EMS) responders

and fown by helicopter to a hospital. He did not recover and died later that day.

For additional inormation regarding this incident, please reer to the National Institute or Occupational Saety

and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Report F201029 (www.cdc.gov/

niosh/re/reports/ace201029.html).


Terry Leo Cannon, Major Age 51, Volunteer • Buechel Fire Protection District, Kentucky

Major Cannon and the members o his re department responded to a re alarm activation in a residence. The in

cident was caused by steam rom a shower and was concluded at 1340 hours. Later that aternoon, Major Cannon

worked out at a local tness acility. Ater completing a treadmill run, he collapsed at approximately 1740 hours.Sta rom the tness acility initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and summoned help.

Fireghters rom the Buechel Fire Protection District responded to the scene and treated Major Cannon. An auto

matic external debrillator (AED) was applied and advanced lie support (ALS) care was provided by emergency

medical responders.

Continued on next page



Major Cannon was transported to the hospital by ambulance, and was later pronounced dead. His death was

caused by a heart attack.

For additional inormation regarding this incident, please reer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and

Prevention Program Report F201008 (www.cdc.gov/niosh/re/reports/ace201008.html).


Henry Sandy, Fireghter Age 52, Volunteer • Northside Volunteer Fire Department, Arkansas

Fireghter Sandy and his spouse, also a reghter, were at the re station when the Northside Volunteer Fire De

partment was dispatched to a residential structure re. Fireghter Sandy and his spouse responded to the scene in

an engine.

A working re in a vacant residence was ound upon arrival. Fireghter Sandy advanced two preconnected hose

lines to the ront door o the structure and charged the lines or use by arriving reghters. Fireghter Sandy car ried a positivepressure an to the residence, started the an, reueled the an, and restarted the an ater reueling.

Fireghter Sandy stepped o o the ront porch o the residence and suddenly collapsed. Fireghters began CPR

and ALS care was provided by the crew o an ambulance that arrived minutes later. Fireghter Sandy was trans

ported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead approximately 45 minutes ater his collapse. The cause o death

was listed as a heart attack.



February 8, 2010–1500 hrs

John B. Coyle, Jr., Assistant Fire Chief Age 63, Volunteer • West Pend Oreille Fire District, Idaho

Assistant Chie Coyle was helping with the construction o a new re station or his re department. He suered a

heart attack while working at the site and later died.

2

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201008.html




2


Stanley Lee Giles, Fire Chief Age 69, Volunteer • Linn Valley Lakes Fire Department, Kansas

The Linn Valley Lakes Fire Department received a mutualaid request or a tanker (tender) to respond to a structure

re. The tanker responded rom the station with one reghter aboard. Chie Giles responded to the incident but

remained at the re station.

The tanker was cancelled while responding and returned to the re station. As the tanker backed into the re station,

Chie Giles was crushed between the moving tanker and a parked apparatus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.




Donald Gary Mellott, Fire Police CaptainAge 62, Volunteer • Woolrich Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Pennsylvania

Fire Police Captain Mellott was dispatched to provide scene saety and trac control services or a mutualaid mo

tor vehicle crash with entrapment and wires down. He parked his vehicle on the side o the road with its warning

lights in operation and set cones and a fare in the roadway to warn approaching drivers.

A civilian vehicle disregarded the road closure, drove over cones, and struck Fire Police Captain Mellott as he aced

away rom oncoming trac. He was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.



February 20, 1010–1614 hrs Jonathan Siemers, Fire Chief Age 44, Career • Clay Center Fire Department, Kansas

Chie Siemers was the rst to arrive at a re alarm incident in a multiple residential occupancy at 1614 hours. The

building was one block rom Chie Siemers’s residence and Chie Siemers walked to the scene in ull turnout gear.

Chie Siemers climbed to the third foor o the building and learned that the alarm was accidentally caused by cooking.




3

Arriving reghters ventilated the building to clear the smoke. Chie Siemers cleared the re alarm panel, sent

reghters back to quarters, and walked back to his residence. When Chie Siemers arrived home, he complained

to his wie o shoulder pain and let a amily outing early because he was not eeling well.

At approximately 0414 hours the next morning, reghters and EMS responders were called to Chie Siemers’s

home or a medical emergency. Chie Siemers had suered a heart attack. Fireghters, law enorcement ocers,

and EMS responders provided ALS care and transported Chie Siemers to the hospital. Chie Siemers was pro

nounced dead at the hospital at 0450 hours.

March 1, 2010–2130 hrs

Brian P. Waynant, Sr., Fireghter/Inspector Age 45, Career • Wilmington Fire Department, Delaware

Fireghter Waynant was on duty. He was struck by a southbound Amtrak train. Delaware State Police, along with

Amtrak police and the city o Wilmington, investigated the circumstances surrounding the death. No oul play

was suspected.

March 5, 2010–2215 hrs

Brian Joseph Rowe, Fire Chief Age 67, Volunteer • West Forks Volunteer Fire Department, Maine

At 2153 hours, Chie Rowe and the members o his re department were dispatched to the scene o a snowmobile

crash in their jurisdiction. Chie Rowe responded in his personal vehicle, a ourwheel drive, because he knewthat it would be needed to access the scene.

Chie Rowe drove approximately 2 miles toward the scene o the incident on an unplowed path. At approximately2215 hours, he became ill and called other reghters by radio to request help. Fireghters and EMS respondersarrived at his location by snowmobile at 2230 hours. Chie Rowe was in his vehicle and was experiencing di culty breathing. He was moved to the passenger seat and a reghter began to back his vehicle down the path. Atsome point, Chie Rowe lost consciousness and CPR was begun in the moving vehicle.

A medical helicopter dispatched to the earlier crash responded to provide treatment and transportation or Chie Rowe. The helicopter crew assisted with treatment to no avail. Chie Rowe was pronounced dead at 2320 hours.



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March 6, 2010–2230 hrs

Gerald Marcheterre, Fireghter Age 50, Volunteer • Borodino Fire Department, New York

Members o the Borodino Fire Department were responding to a report o a barn that had collapsed under theweight o recent snow. Shortly ater leaving the re station on the response, Fireghter Marcheterre began tocough and had diculty breathing.

Fireghters requested that an ambulance meet them at a re station along their route. When the apparatus arrivedat the re station, Fireghter Marcheterre was removed and ound to be in respiratory and cardiac arrest. CPRwas provided by reghters and Fireghter Marcheterre was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Fireghter

Marcheterre was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause o death was a heart attack.

March 10, 2010–0508 hrs

Kevin J. Swan, Fire Police CaptainAge 68, Volunteer • Beacon Hose Co. No. 1, Beacon Falls, Connecticut

Fire Police Captain Swan and the members o his re department were dispatched to a possible structure re at0508 hours. Fire Police Captain Swan reported his response by radio.

At 0811 hours, Captain Swan was discovered, deceased, in his personal vehicle in the driveway o his residence.

His death was caused by a heart attack.

March 13, 2010–0630 hrs

Donald Willard “Donnie” Adkins, III, Fireghter Age 32, Volunteer • Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia

Fireghter Adkins was a member o a veperson switwater rescue team that was deployed to the southern part

o West Virginia to assist with switwater operations. His deployment was under the direct order o the West Vir ginia Oce o Emergency Services.

Fireghter Adkins, along with two other crew members, was actively engaged in rescue operations when the boat

was captured by strong current, struck a bridge, and capsized. All three members o the crew were thrown into

the rapidly moving Beaver Creek. Fireghter Adkins did not surace. His body was recovered 6 days later about 6

miles downstream o the incident site. Fireghter Adkins drowned.





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March 21, 2010–1503 hrs

Jeremy Gordon Bolick, Firefghter Age 23, Volunteer • Blowing Rock Fire Department, North Carolina

Charles Thomas “Tommy” Wright, Firefghter Age 20, Volunteer • Blowing Rock Fire Department, North Carolina

Firefghter Bolick was the driver and Firefghter Wright was the ront seat passenger in a 2008 Ford Mustang. The

frefghters were returning rom a fre certifcation class at a local community college.

Firefghter Bolick lost control o the vehicle. It crossed the center line, spun around twice, and was struck by a

vehicle in the oncoming lane. Firefghter Bolick and Firefghter Wright were trapped in the vehicle and died o

multiple traumatic injuries. Both frefghters were wearing seatbelts and the vehicle’s airbags deployed. The law

enorcement report on the incident cited excessive speed and poor road conditions as actors in the crash.

The passenger in the other car involved in the crash died 11 days ater the crash as a result o injuries received in

the incident.

Law enorcement investigators were quoted in the press saying that the crash involved street racing between the

vehicle driven by Firefghter Bolick and frefghters in another vehicle. Speeds during the race on the rain-slicked

highway topped 100 miles per hour (mph). In December o 2010, an 18-year-old frefghter was charged with one

count o spontaneous speed competition and one count o misdemeanor death by vehicle.

March 29, 2010–1610 hrs

John Perry Moore, Firefghter/ParamedicAge 56, Career • Columbus Division of Fire, Ohio

Firefghter/Paramedic Moore was assigned as a paramedic instructor. He worked 24-hour shits and was based at the

department’s training complex. When frefghters noticed that his vehicle had not moved, they entered his quarters

to investigate and ound that Firefghter/Paramedic Moore had died. His death was caused by a heart attack.



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March 30, 2010–2100 hrs

Brian Colin “Boo” Carey, Fireghter Age 28, Career • Homewood Fire Department, Illinois

Fireghter Carey was on duty when he and his crew were dispatched to a residential structure re. Law enorce

ment ocers on the scene reported a working re with a person trapped inside.

When reghters arrived on scene, they ound a large home with an obvious working re to the rear. Fireghter

Carey and two other reghters advanced a 21/2inch hoseline through the ront door o the home. Once inside,

they ound heavy black smoke about 4 eet o o the foor. As the line was advanced, the smoke level dropped to

kneelevel.

Fireghters conducting search activities observed re advancement and yelled to the hoseline crew to evacuate.

Once reghters exited, they ound that Fireghter Carey and another reghter were still in the structure. Fire

conditions inside had changed dramatically. The other reghter was able to make it to within a ew eet o the

door as he was pulled rom the structure by other reghters.

Fireghters entered the structure with a hoseline to search or Fireghter Carey. He was ound wrapped up in the

ruptured 21/2inch handline and was not wearing his acepiece, hood, or helmet. Fireghter Carey was removed

rom the building.

Once outside, Fireghter Carey was treated by other reghters and transported to the hospital by ambulance. He

was pronounced dead at the hospital.

At autopsy, the carboxyhemoglobin level in Fireghter Carey’s blood was ound to be 30 percent. Fireghter Carey

had been wearing his acepiece when he entered the structure. It is unknown why he removed his equipment.

The 87yearold occupant o the home also perished in the re. Fireghter Carey was the rst LODD in the 109

year history o the Homewood Fire Department.





April 3, 2010–1220 hrs

Leo Andrew Powell, CaptainAge 74, Volunteer • Morgan Township Volunteer Fire Department, Ohio

Captain Powell and members o his re department responded to a mutualaid wildland re at 1220 hours. Cap

tain Powell was the driver/operator o a brush truck. All Morgan Township units were back in service at 1432

hours. At approximately 1745 hours, Captain Powell became ill at his residence and could not be revived. His

death was caused by a heart attack.

April 9, 2010–1737 hrs

Donald Duaine Schaper, Fireghter Age 53, Volunteer • Timber Knob Volunteer Fire Department, Missouri

Fireghter Schaper responded to an emergency in his community. As the incident was resolved and reghters

prepared to leave the scene, Fireghter Schaper grabbed his head and chest and collapsed. He was transported to

the hospital and was pronounced dead upon his arrival. His death was caused by a heart attack.

April 11, 2010–1555 hrs

Harold D. Reed, Sr., Fireghter Age 74, Volunteer • Peru Fire District #3, Kansas

Fireghter Reed was assisting with wildland reghting operations when he became ill. He was transported to

the hospital by ambulance but did not survive. His death was caused by a heart attack.

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April 11, 2010–0914 hrs

Garrett William Loomis, Assistant Fire Chief Age 26, Volunteer • Sackets Harbor Fire Department, New York

Assistant Chie Loomis and the members o his re department responded to a report o a re in a 20x60 oot

oxygen limiting silo containing approximately 20 eet o high moisture corn. The re may have been caused by

embers rom an earlier barn re.Continued on next page



3

Upon arrival, reghters ound a silo with bottom and top doors open, light smoke, and burning embers visible

inside the bottom o the silo. They ormed a plan to close all silo doors and introduce carbon dioxide to smother

the re.

Assistant Chie Loomis climbed to the top o the silo using a ladder chute attached to the silo. He closed and

latched the doors at the top o the silo, reported the completion o his task by radio, and began to climb back

down the ladder.

An explosion occurred and Assistant Chie Loomis was thrown 20–30 eet to the ground. Assistant Chie Loomis

was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the hospital due to traumatic injuries.



April 12, 2010–2000 hrs

Vincent Angelo Iaccino, CaptainAge 65, Volunteer • Roosevelt Fire District Engine Company #1, Hyde Park, New York

Members o the Roosevelt Fire District were attending training at the Dutchess County Fire Training Center. The

company drill involved amiliarization with newly acquired bailout systems and SCBA training.

Captain Iaccino was involved in SCBA condence course training wearing ull structural reghting protective

clothing, including an SCBA. Captain Iaccino completed the training and was directed to rehab.

While in rehab, Captain Iaccino became ill. He was observed rubbing his chest and complained o chest pains.

He was treated by reghters and by standby EMS responders. Captain Iaccino was transported to the hospital by

ambulance. He was pronounced dead shortly ater arriving at the emergency room. His death was caused by a

heart attack.



April 21, 2010–2130 hrs

Steven Scott Crannell, Fireghter Age 47, Volunteer • Guthrie Center Fire Department, Iowa

Fireghter Crannell participated in a training exercise with members o his department. An old barn was used or

live re training. The training involved hose lays, deensive reghting operations, and the use o portable water

tanks. Training was concluded and Fireghter Crannell went home at approximately 2130 hours.

At 0005 hours, reghters and EMS responders were dispatched to Fireghter Crannell’s home. He had suered a

heart attack. Fireghter Crannell was transported to the hospital by ambulance but died a short time later.



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May 1, 2010–1230 hrs

John Polimine, Fireghter Age 50, Volunteer • Scalp Level & Paint Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania

Fireghter Polimine was participating in an Essentials o Fireghting program. The training included interior and

exterior reghting evolutions. The day started at 0800 hours with student briengs and the collection o baseline

vitals on each student.

Fireghter Polimine was the nozzle person or an interior attack evolution. He completed re extinguishment and

ventilation tasks. His crew was instructed to back out o the room. Fireghter Polimine was sluggish and was

escorted out o the burn room by an instructor.

EMS sta in rehab evaluated Fireghter Polimine and started an IV to rehydrate him. Once the IV was completed,

Fireghter Polimine was reevaluated and ound to be eeling better. Fireghter Polimine was allowed to leave

rehab ater approximately 2 hours to participate in exterior reghting evolutions.

Fireghter Polimine participated in a propane re simulation as the nozzle person. At the completion o the exer

cise, he was directed by an instructor to drink some water as he took a break.

As the next round o exercises was started, Fireghter Polimine could not be located. A search o the area ound

Fireghter Polimine unconscious in a portable restroom. Fireghters and instructors removed Fireghter Polimine

to the ground and began medical treatment.

An AED was applied and delivered three shocks. Fireghter Polimine was transported by ALS ambulance to the

hospital where he later died. His death was due to a heart attack.



May 19, 2010–0142 hrs

Paul Edward Johnson, Fire Chief Age 63, Volunteer • Crow Roost Fire Department, Oklahoma

The Crow Roost Fire Department received notication rom the local dispatch center o a structure re involv ing a house in the Crow Roost Fire District. Chie Johnson responded to the re station rom his residence in his

personal vehicle.

Chie Johnson was the rst member o the re department to arrive at the station ater receiving the call. Chie

Johnson entered the re station, placed his protective reghting clothing on Crow Roost Pumper 2, and opened

the manual apparatus bay doors.




Another reghter arrived, boarded the apparatus, and the unit responded rom quarters. During the response,

Chie Johnson reported that he did not eel well. Shortly thereater, Chie Johnson slowed the truck and told the

reghter to “take the wheel.” Chie Johnson then slumped back in the driver’s seat. The reghter was able to

reach the brake pedal and brought the truck to a stop in the middle o the road. Chie Johnson was now unre

sponsive. The reghter transmitted a Mayday on the truck radio, and then called the local dispatch center, via

cell phone, to request a ground ambulance to respond to their location at approximately 0200 hours.

Other reghters arrived and perormed a rapid medical assessment on Chie Johnson. They ound that he was

not breathing and conrmed that he had no pulse. One reghter immediately began CPR while another re trieved an AED and oxygen rom an apparatus compartment. The AED delivered a shock but did not restore a

pulse. As a result, CPR was continued.

An ALS ambulance arrived and transported Chie Johnson to the hospital. Care was continued in the emergency

room until Chie Johnson was pronounced dead at 0311 hours. His death was caused by a heart attack.

May 22, 2010–2055 hrs John Bradford Glaser, Fireghter

Age 33, Career • Shawnee Fire Department, Kansas

The Shawnee Fire Department received a residential re alarm report at 2052 hours and dispatched a single com

pany. Additional calls reporting a working re generated the response o a ull alarm assignment o three engines,

two quints, a Command Ocer, and a medic unit.

Fireghters arrived on the scene and ound a working re in a 6,000squareoot residence. Fireghter Glaser

was assigned search and rescue o the structure with his company ocer. Bystanders reported that a dog and an

elderly couple might be inside o the structure. Fireghter Glaser broke out a side window by the ront door and

unlocked the door. Heavy black smoke began to pour out o the broken window as he worked.

Fireghter Glaser and his company ocer entered the structure and began a search. As they searched, Fireghter

Glaser advanced an uncharged 13/4inch handline and a Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC). They located the amily

dog and carried it to the ront door, where it was handed to other reghters.

Fireghter Glaser and his company ocer reentered the structure to continue the search. They were joined by

another crew. Shortly thereater, Fireghter Glaser’s company ocer was heard calling or him. The second crew

scanned the area with their TIC in an attempt to nd Fireghter Glaser.

Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) crews were assigned and searched the structure or Fireghter Glaser. Ater ap

proximately 10 minutes o searching by multiple crews, Fireghter Glaser was located in a small room behind a

closed door. He was removed rom the structure by reghters and treated. Fireghter Glaser was transported tothe hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

Investigation revealed that Fireghter Glaser had become ill and vomited into his SCBA acepiece. When he was ound,

he was lying on his back without his helmet, gloves, and acepiece. His death was caused by smoke inhalation.


Prevention Program Report F201013 (www.cdc.gov/niosh/re/reports/ace201013.html ).

3





May 22, 2010–2114 hrs

Kurt Michael Meusel, Fireghter

Age 25, Volunteer • Scales Mound Fire Protection District, IllinoisFireghter Meusel responded on his 4wheel drive allterrain vehicle (ATV) to a search operation or an elderly

man with dementia that was reported lost in a wooded area. As he responded, Fireghter Meusel struck a deer in

the roadway and was thrown rom his vehicle.

A passing motorist reported the crash. Fireghters responded and provided treatment or Fireghter Meusel but

he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was caused by blunt orce trauma to the head. Fireghter Meusel

was not wearing a helmet at the time o the crash.

The subject o the original search arrived home rom a walk as reghters spoke with his spouse.

May 23, 2010–0210 hrs

David Joseph Irr, Fire CaptainAge 49, Career • Yuma Rural/Metro Fire Department, Arizona

Captain Irr worked overtime rom approximately 1945 hours on May 21, 2010, until his regular shit began at 0700

hours on May 22, 2010. During the shit, Captain Irr conducted water supply training, assisted crew members with

maintenance o a olding water tank, and responded to two emergency incidents.

Captain Irr was heard sending an incident report by ax at approximately 0210 hours on May 23, 2010. The next

morning at shit change, reghters ound Captain Irr deceased in his bunk. The cause o death was a heart attack.

May 29, 2010–Time Unknown

Donald A. Schneider, Jr., Fireghter/Fire Inspector Age 63, Volunteer • Belleville Fire Department, Wisconsin

Fireghter Schneider was completing paperwork associated with his duties as the department’s re inspector in the

re station. He suered a heart attack and died. He was discovered some time later by other reghters.

3



4

June 1, 2010–1503 hrs

Edward J. Eckert, Firefghter Age 71, Volunteer • Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company #1, New Jersey

Firefghter Eckert and the members o his fre department were dispatched to a smoke condition in a residence.

Firefghter Eckert rose rom a chair to respond and collapsed. His speech was slurred and he did not have a

memory o alling.

Firefghters responded to Firefghter Eckert’s residence and assisted EMS responders with care. Firefghter Eckert

was transported by ambulance to the hospital and then transported by air ambulance to a regional-care acility.

Firefghter Eckert died on June 6, 2010, as the result o a CVA.

June 19, 2010–Time Unknown

Scott W. Davis, Firefghter Age 46, Career • Oswego Fire Department, New York

Firefghter Davis and other frefghters responded to an emergency medical incident that concluded at 2300 hours

on June 18, 2010. He went o duty the next morning and traveled with his amily. Firefghter Davis suered a

heart attack later in the day on June 20, 2010, and died.

June 22, 2010–1900 hrs

Terrell Gene Nielsen, Sr., Firefghter Age 56, Volunteer • Bryan County Fire Department, Georgia

Firefghter Nielsen attended training at the fre station on June 22, 2010. During the course o the training ex-

ercise, Firefghter Nielsen struck his elbow on a portion o the body o an engine as he removed SCBA cylinders

or use in the training. He noted his injury to other frefghters but thought that it was insignifcant. Firefghter

Nielsen signed out o training at 2100 hours.

At approximately 0300 hours the next morning, Firefghter Nielsen awoke and began vomiting. He was experi-

encing pain is his injured elbow. An ambulance was called. Arriving EMS responders treated the incident as a

cardiac event based on Firefghter Nielsen’s symptoms and transported him to the hospital.




4

Fireghter Nielsen was diagnosed as suering rom necrotizing asciitis (commonly known as fesh eating dis

ease). He underwent multiple surgeries to attempt to control the spread o the disease and was transerred to a

burn unit or treatment on June 26, 2010.

Fireghter Nielsen underwent a total o 18 operations during 79 days in the hospital. Although his condition

seemed to improve or a time, he died on September 9, 2010, as a result o complications related to the injury.

June 23, 2010–1530 hrs

Chet D. Bauermeister, Fire Chief Age 46, Volunteer • Franklin County Fire District 4, Washington

Chie Bauermeister and the members o his re department responded to a mutualaid wildland re. Chie Bauer

meister and another reghter staed a converted snowcattype ATV equipped with a water tank and pump.

As the snowcat ascended a hill, it lost traction and began to tumble down the slope. The passenger was ejected

during the roll. Chie Bauermeister remained in the vehicle as it rolled 3.5 times. He was pinned in the wreck age. Fireghters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) gained access to the wreckage and assessed Chie

Bauermeister’s condition and ound him to be deceased. He died o multiple traumatic injuries.

Neither occupant o the snowcat was wearing a seatbelt at the time o the incident.



June 27, 2010–1800 hrs

Cecil Jay Brown, Fire Chief Age 42, Volunteer • Gresston Volunteer Fire Department, Georgia

Ater the passage o a thunderstorm, Chie Brown and the members o his re department were dispatched to a

roadway in their district that was blocked by a large allen tree. Chie Brown responded to the scene and assisted

reghters in removal o the tree, including the use o a chain saw.

Chie Brown let the scene suddenly in his personal vehicle. He encountered another reghter and motioned or

the reghter to ollow him. Chie Brown pulled o o the road and got into the passenger seat o his vehicle.

Chie Brown was having diculty breathing and asked the reghter to drive him to the hospital.

When the reghter noticed that Chie Brown had become unconscious, he pulled o the road, removed Chie

Brown rom his vehicle, and started CPR. EMS responders arrived, provided treatment, and transported Chie

Brown to the hospital. Chie Brown died as the result o a heart attack.



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June 30, 2010–1140 hrs

Charles Phillip Hornberger, Engineer

Age 60, Volunteer • Milmont Park Fire Company Station #49, PennsylvaniaEngineer Hornberger responded to his re station when his department was dispatched to an automatic re alarm.

When he arrived at the station, he attempted to get into the driver’s seat o the engine or the response but elt

dizzy and told other reghters that he was going to standby at the station.

At approximately 1200 hours, the incident was concluded and Engineer Hornberger went home. At 1515 hours,

Engineer Hornberger suered a heart attack at home. He was transported to the hospital but did not recover. He

died as a result o the heart attack on July 12, 2010.

July 1, 2010–1045 hrs

Charles Robert “Bob” Flintom, Engineer Age 61, Career • Pelham Batesville Fire Department, South Carolina

Engineer Flintom had been on light duty or some time due to medical issues. Engineer Flintom’s duties were lim

ited to instation duties including apparatus checks, SCBA maintenance, and station cleaning duties.

At approximately 1045 hours, Engineer Flintom experienced a all in the re station. Fireghters treated him or

a cut on his head and recommended that he go to the hospital to be checked. Engineer Flintom agreed to call his

wie and have her take him to the emergency room.

Fireghters checked on Engineer Flintom in the hospital later that night and ound him in better condition than

beore. Engineer Flintom, however, later took a turn or the worse and died on July 4, 2010. His death was

caused by a head injury received in the all at the re station.

July 1, 2010–1310 hrs

Frank William Fouts, V, LieutenantAge 37, Career • City of Kankakee Fire Department, Illinois

Lieutenant Fouts responded to several emergency medical and re incidents while working his shit rom June 30,

2010, to the morning o July 1, 2010. At 1310 hours on July 1, 2010, Lieutenant Fouts was discovered unconscious

in the back yard o his home. He was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead o a heart attack.





4

July 3, 2010–2141 hrs

Thomas T. Araguz, III, CaptainAge 30, Volunteer • Wharton Volunteer Fire Department, Texas

Captain Araguz and his engine company arrived approximately 20 minutes ater dispatch and ound a working fre

in a large egg production and processing acility. Captain Araguz and another captain advanced an attack line into

the structure. The captains became separated rom the hoseline and then rom each other in the interior.

The other captain with Captain Araguz was able to fnd a metal exterior wall and banged on it until frefghters on

the exterior were able to cut open the wall to allow his escape. The fre progressed and attempts to locate Captain

Araguz were unsuccessul. He died o thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Ofce prepared a detailed report on this incident. The report is available at www.

tdi.state.tx.us/reports/fre/documents/mloddaraguz.pd

July 9, 2010–1030 hrs

Douglas Lee Smith, Fireghter/Chief Driver Age 50, Volunteer • Liberty Hose Company No. 1, Williamstown, Pennsylvania

Firefghter Smith arrived at his fre station to respond to a structure fre. He took his position in the driver’s seat

o the apparatus and began to exhibit signs o illness. The ofcer o the apparatus called or emergency medical

assistance.

Firefghter Smith was treated at the fre station and went into cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment. He was

transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. His death was caused by a heart attack.

July 14, 2010–1545 hrs

Richard Lawrence Springman, Fireghter Age 20, Volunteer • Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania

Firefghter Springman was responding to a atal crash on a local highway. As he approached the scene, he lost

control o his pickup truck and struck a guardrail. News reports stated that Firefghter Springman oversteered,

causing his truck to travel sideways into the guardrail. The vehicle rolled, ejecting Firefghter Springman. The

vehicle came to rest approximately 300 yards rom the original crash incident scene. Firefghter Springman was

not wearing a seatbelt and was killed due to multiple traumas.



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July 23, 2010–1830 hrs

Steven Nelson Costello, Lieutenant

Age 46, Career • Burlington Fire Department, Vermont

Lieutenant Costello was on duty and responded to three emergency incidents during the rst part o his shit. At

1800 hours, his company returned to quarters rom their last response. Lieutenant Costello donned his workout

clothing and told his crew that he was going to work out.

Approximately 15 minutes later, Lieutenant Costello was discovered beside the treadmill, unconscious. Fireghters

provided CPR and applied an AED. Lieutenant Costello was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He died on

July 30, 2010, as the result o a heart attack.

July 25, 2010–1537 hrs

David A. Sullivan, Firefghter Age 70, Volunteer • Otis Fire Department, Massachusetts

Firefghter Sullivan and the members o his fre department assisted with a structure fre in a neighboring communi-

ty on July 24, 2010. The last Otis unit cleared at 1815 hours. Firefghter Sullivan died o a heart attack the next day.

July 24, 2010–1553 hrs

Steven John Velasquez, LieutenantAge 40, Career • Bridgeport Fire Department, Connecticut

Michel Baik, Firefghter Age 49, Career • Bridgeport Fire Department, Connecticut

Lieutenant Velasquez and Fireghter Baik were on duty at their regular assignment at Ladder 11. The unit was

dispatched at 1549 hours to respond to a residential structure re.

Upon their arrival at the scene, reghters ound an active re on the second foor o the residence. Lieutenant

Velasquez and Fireghter Baik were assigned to go to the third foor o the building to look or re extension and

to search or victims. Lieutenant Velasquez and Fireghter Baik proceeded to the third foor as assigned. Both

reghters were wearing ull structural protective clothing, including SCBAs.




When they arrived on the third foor, Lieutenant Velasquez reported stable conditions by radio to the IncidentCommander (IC) and requested a hoseline be brought to the foor. A ew moments later, the IC observed smokecoming rom the third foor and attempted to contact Lieutenant Velasquez by radio to no avail.

The IC ordered an evacuation o the building by all reghters in order to account or everyone on the scene. Inthe process o the evacuation, reghters were observed on the third foor in distress.

The RIT was deployed to the third foor or rescue. Lieutenant Velasquez and Fireghter Baik were ound uncon scious and brought to the exterior o the building.

Fireghters and emergency responders immediately began to provide medical treatment or both reghters.Lieutenant Velasquez was transported by ambulance to Saint Vincent’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Fireghter Baik was transported by ambulance to Bridgeport Hospital where he was also pronounced dead.

Autopsies and toxicological studies were perormed on both reghters. Lieutenant Velasquez and Fireghter Baikboth died o smoke inhalation suered as they ought the structure re.

For additional inormation regarding this incident, please reer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation andPrevention Program Report F201018 (www.cdc.gov/niosh/re/reports/ace201018.html).

July 26, 2010–1630 hrs

Posey Wayne Dillon, Fire Chief Age 59, Volunteer • Rocky Mount Fire Department #1, Virginia

William Daniel “Danny” Altice, Fireghter Age 67, Volunteer • Rocky Mount Fire Department #1, Virginia

Chie Dillon and Fireghter Altice were responding to a mutualaid structure re incident. Their engine entered

an intersection on a red light and was struck by a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The collision caused Chie Dillon tolose control o the apparatus and it rolled.

Both reghters were ejected rom the vehicle. Neither reghter was wearing a seatbelt. Both reghters dieddue to traumatic injuries.


4





4

August 2, 2010–1025 hrs

Christopher Wayne Adams, Forest Ranger IAge 25, Wildland Full-Time • Arkansas Forestry Commission

Forest Ranger Adams worked a re scene on the morning o August 2, 2010. His activities consisted o plowinglines around a previous re to assure containment. Once this was completed, Forest Ranger Adams was assignedto drive a tractor trailer truck hauling a D5 Caterpillar plow.

As Forest Ranger Adams approached a curve in the road, he lost control o the vehicle; it let the roadway andoverturned. Forest Ranger Adams was trapped in the cab o the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.Forest Ranger Adams was wearing his seatbelt at the time o the crash.

August 9, 2010–0030 hrs

Christopher D. Wheatley, Fireghter/ParamedicAge 31, Career • Chicago Fire Department, Illinois

Fireghter Wheatley and his ladder company were dispatched to a structural re in a ourstory commercial and

residential structure. Upon their arrival, reghters observed smoke and sparks coming rom a cooking exhaust

an chute.

Fireghter Wheatley ascended a ladder attached to the side o the building to gain access to the roo. He was

wearing ull structural reghting protective clothing, including a SCBA. He also carried a water re extinguisher

with him as he climbed.

When Fireghter Wheatley reached the roo, he lost his grip and ell 53 eet to the ground. Fireghter Wheatley

landed on his eet and immediately dropped to the ground. Fireghter Wheatley was treated by reghters and

transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital due to multiple injuries. The most signicant

injury noted in the autopsy was transaction o the aorta.





4

August 19, 2010–2045 hrs

Jonathan Lewis “Johnny” Littleton, CaptainAge 40, Volunteer • Pine Level Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina

Captain Littleton and other reghters participated in a technical rescue class on the evening o August 19, 2010.

The class began at the Pine Level Fire Department at 1830 hours and was concluded at 2230 hours. The class in

volved rope work and was very physically demanding.

Captain Littleton participated in all acets o the class but began to eel ill toward the end o class. Instructors al

lowed him to sit out the class cleanup duties. Captain Littleton was scheduled to work that evening in his job with

the town police department but had gotten someone else to cover his shit.

Captain Littleton went home and stayed in bed or the better part o the next day. His wie last saw him at ap

proximately 1500 hours. At approximately 2030 hours, Captain Littleton’s daughter ound him deceased in bed.

Fireghter and EMS responders provided treatment but Captain Littleton had died o a heart attack.

August 22, 2010–2121 hrs

Douglas Farrington, Fireghter Age 44, Volunteer • Delta Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania

On August 22, 2010, Fireghter Farrington responded to his re station or a mutualaid barn re. He missed the

response but remained in the re station to sta a backup engine. Fireghter Farrington was at the re stationor about an hour and assisted other reghters in cleaning and putting the equipment back in service when they

returned rom the response. Fireghter Farrington went home at approximately 2230 hours.

The next day, Fireghter Farrington worked in the morning at his ulltime job as a re inspector and then let

work to complete a mowing job. At 1105 hours, Fireghter Farrington momentarily lost consciousness. Another

reghter assisting with the mowing job called or EMS. When the ambulance arrived, Fireghter Farrington had

gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 1219 hours ater arriving at the hospital. His


September 3, 2010–Time Unknown

Larry W. Suiter, Fire Chief Age 65, Volunteer • Lorraine Green Garden Fire Department, Kansas

Chie Suiter responded to an anhydrous ammonia leak at a local grain elevator on the evening o September 3,

2010. He died at his home in the early hours o September 4, 2010, o an apparent heart attack.



4

September 6, 2010–1837 hrs

John Kelly, Fireghter/Chief Driver

Age 51, Volunteer • Tarrytown Fire Department, New YorkA resident o the Village o Tarrytown complained that the sewer service to their home was clogged. The Depart

ment o Public Works (DPW) attempted to clear the clog in the area o the home but was not successul. The Tar

rytown Fire Station was in the area o the sewer problems. There are three sewer system openings in proximity

to the re station: one in ront o the station, one in the station, and one behind the station. DPW called the re

chie and asked him to open the re station so that DPW employees could have access to the sewer system inside

o the station.

Fireghters assisted DPW employees with access to the opening behind the re station. A DPW employee entered

the sewer opening. The DPW employee lost consciousness as he descended the interior ladder and ell to the bot

tom. The DPW oreperson requested assistance rom reghters. The re chie asked dispatch or EMS assistance

and also started a re department incident.

As an atmospheric meter rom the re department was prepared or use, Fireghter Kelly entered the opening. He

was not wearing a SCBA or harness. When Fireghter Kelly was hal way down the ladder, he lost consciousness and

ell to the bottom. Additional resources were called to the scene and Fireghter Kelly and the DPW employee were

removed. Both Fireghter Kelly and the DPW employee died o asphyxiation due to an oxygen decient atmosphere.

September 7, 2010–2340 hrsDonald Ray Lam, Jr., Forest Ranger Technician III

Age 58, Wildland Full-Time • Kentucky Division of Forestry

Forest Ranger Lam was working with other reghters to contain the Scotts Chapel Road Fire in Livingston Coun

ty. Forest Ranger Lam was clearing a re break or containment at the base o a blu when a burning snag broke

loose on top and rolled downhill over a small blu, striking Lam rom behind.

Fireghter Lam was knocked out and sustained a serious head injury, ractured hip, bruises, and seconddegree

burns on his calves rom the snag. The impact let him unconscious and with serious injuries, including the burns

rom which he did not recover. Forest Ranger Lam died on February 17, 2011.




Edward Avoughn Mosley, Fireghter Age 66, Volunteer • Steele Creek Acres Volunteer Fire Department, Morgan, Texas

In March o 2010, Steele Creek Volunteer Fire Station One was destroyed by re. Members o the re department

were working on the construction o a new re station. Fireghter Mosley was injured on the worksite. He ell back

wards and struck his head on concrete. Fireghter Mosley died as the result o his injury on September 26, 2010.


James Michael Owen, Fireghter/ParamedicAge 56, Career • Orange County Fire Authority, California

Fireghter Owen and other reghters were participating in a day o technical rescue training at the Orange

County Fire Authority’s Regional Fire Operations and Training Center. The day began with classroom instruction

and stretching exercises prior to the start o training evolutions.

The rst training evolution began at 1055 hours. Teams o reghters, including Fireghter Owen, moved

4,000pound cubes o concrete using only hand tools. Fireghter Owen and his group successully completed the

evolution. At 1120 hours, reghters were released or lunch.

As Fireghter Owen walked toward his apparatus, he suddenly collapsed. Fireghters immediately provided CPRand ALSlevel care. By 1131 hours, Fireghter Owen was in an ambulance en route to the hospital. FireghterOwen was pronounced dead at 1222 hours in the hospital emergency room, despite all eorts in the eld and inthe hospital to revive him. His death was caused by a heart attack.



Mark Phillip Johnson, Deputy Chief Age 55, Volunteer • Hinsdale Fire Department, Illinois

Deputy Chie Johnson responded to a medical emergency incident on September 20, 2010. The incident con cluded at 1148 hours and Deputy Chie Johnson returned to his oce. At approximately 1545 hours, Deputy Chie Johnson told other reghters that he was going to the basement o the re station to work out.


4



At 1655 hours, reghters discovered Deputy Chie Johnson collapsed behind an exercise machine. Fireghtersbegan treatment and transported Deputy Chie Johnson to a local hospital. He could not be revived and was pro nounced dead at 1739 hours. His death was caused by a heart attack.




Ryan Neil Seitz, Fireghter Age 26, Volunteer • McArthur Fire Department, Ohio

Fireghter Seitz and other reghters rom Ohio responded to a group o wildland res in Eastern Ross County,Ohio. Fireghter Seitz was stang a brush truck. The water tank on the brush truck ailed under pressure andFireghter Seitz was struck in the chest by a piece o the tank. He was killed as a result o trauma and was pro nounced dead at the scene.


Ronald W. Stephan, Fireghter Age 61, Volunteer • Lynn Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana

On September 24, 2010, Fireghter Stephan responded to a mutualaid wildland re. By 1620 hours, his depart ment was back in service. The next morning, Fireghter Stephan suered a heart attack while working on his

arm. EMS was called at 0950 hours. Fireghter and EMS responders provided CPR and ALSlevel care. Their e orts were not successul and Fireghter Stephan was pronounced dead due to a heart attack.


William Harold “Hal” Clark, Fireghter Age 54, Volunteer • Atlantic Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, Virginia

Fireghter Clark and the members o his department were assisting with wildland res in New Church, VA. Fire

ghter Clark operated a 300 oot 11/2inch hoseline on the re or approximately 35 minutes. Fireghter Clark

became ill while working the incident. He was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital. He was pronounced

dead at the hospital as the result o a heart attack.


Prevention Program Report F201035 (www.cdc.gov/niosh/re/reports/ace201035.html ).

5





5


Robert Hall, Fireghter Age 57, Volunteer • Lynchburg Area Joint Fire & Ambulance District, Ohio

Firefghter Hall attended a meeting at the fre station. As he let the fre station, he became ill. Firefghters and

EMS responders provided assistance and Firefghter Hall was transported to the hospital. Firefghter Hall did not

recover and later died as the result o a CVA.

October 2, 2010–2245 hrs

Thomas Dale “Tinker Tom” Innes, Assistant Fire Chief Age 61, Volunteer • Hindsboro Community Fire Protection District, Illinois

Assistant Chie Innes responded to an EMS call at 2245 hours. On the scene, he assisted with patient treatment and

then helped restore equipment to readiness or the next incident. He returned home at approximately 2330 hours.

Assistant Chie Innes did not eel well and ound that his blood pressure was high.

Assistant Chief Innes and his wife decided that it would be best for him to go to the emergency room by personal

vehicle. As Mrs. Innes drove, Assistant Chief Innes became unresponsive. An ambulance was called and transport-

ed Assistant Chief Innes to the hospital. He did not recover and was later pronounced dead due to a heart attack.


James Carlyle Saunders, Fireghter Age 52, Career • Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, California

Firefghter Saunders and other frefghters rom his fre department controlled a wildland fre that occurred near a

local gol course. Firefghters were in the process o mopping up when Firefghter Saunders became ill. He was

treated by frefghters and transported by ambulance to the hospital. Firefghter Saunders suered a heart attack

and died on October 7, 2010.



5


Daniel C. Wilson, Fireghter

Age 58, Volunteer • Jerusalem Township Fire Department, OhioOn October 19, 2010, at approximately 1515 hours, Fireghter Wilson responded to an EMS incident. At the

conclusion o the response, he returned home. It was noted that he appeared to be eeling poorly when he let.

On October 20, 2010, at approximately 1000 hours, he requested EMS to his residence due to eeling ill. He was

transported to the hospital where he underwent emergency heart surgery and remained hospitalized until his

death on October 23, 2010.


William E. “Billy” Akin, Jr., Fire Police CaptainAge 54, Volunteer • Ghent Volunteer Fire Company Number One, New York

Fire Police Captain Akin and the members o his re department were dispatched to an automobile crash with

injuries on a local roadway. Fire Police Captain Akin was responding is his personal vehicle when he suered a

heart attack.

Fire Police Captain Akin’s vehicle accelerated through an intersection and crashed into a utility pole with sucient

orce to break the pole and drop live electrical wires to the street. Fireghters responding to the original call came

upon the crash, removed Fire Police Captain Akin rom his vehicle, and provided treatment. He was transported

to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly ater his arrival.


Randall Scott Davenport, Fireghter Age 37, Career • Marshall Fire Department, Missouri

Fireghter Davenport responded to a residential structure re involving a 1,200squareoot singlestory home. Thestructure was wellinvolved and Fireghter Davenport assisted with extinguishment and overhaul once the re was

knocked down. The incident was dispatched at 1307 hours and he returned to quarters at approximately 1400 hours

At 1539 hours, Fireghter Davenport was dispatched to a mutualaid structure re. Fireghter Davenport drove a

tanker (tender) and worked onscene to protect an exposure that was threatened. He returned to the re station at

approximately 1800 hours.




5

Fireghter Davenport complained to other reghters that he was atigued but did not complain o any cardiac

symptoms. Fireghters watched a sports game on television until midnight. Fireghter Davenport slept in a chair

in the station’s day room.

At approximately 0600 hours, reghters ound Fireghter Davenport deceased in the chair. He had suered a

heart attack during the night and died.


Bruce M. Bachinsky, LieutenantAge 47, Career • Waterbury Fire Department, Connecticut

Lieutenant Bachinsky went o duty at 0800 hours on October 26, 2010, ater responding to multiple incidents. As

he was riding his bicycle at approximately 1630 hours, he suered a heart attack.

A passerby ound Lieutenant Bachinsky at the roadside. A bystander perormed CPR until law enorcement and

EMS responders arrived. An AED was used and Lieutenant Bachinsky was taken to the hospital where he was laterpronounced dead.


Kevin Daniel Quinn, LieutenantAge 52, Career • Dayton Fire Department, Ohio

Lieutenant Quinn was the onduty representative or the Dayton Fire Department in the Montgomery CountyRegional Dispatch Center. During his 24hour shit, Lieutenant Quinn monitored emergency activity and partici

pated in physical tness training activities. He also completed his annual SCBA t test.

At approximately 2230 hours on October 29, 2010, Lieutenant Quinn retired to his quarters or a break. A dis

patcher that entered his quarters at approximately 0620 hours on October 30, 2010, ound him deceased. His




5


Gary Lowell Cummins, Fireghter Age 61, Volunteer • Brocton Fire Protection District, Illinois

Fireghter Cummins and the members o his re department were dispatched to a structure re in their district.

Fireghter Cummins drove an engine apparatus to the scene. When he arrived on the scene, he was assigned by

the re chie to position his apparatus to support reghting operations.

As Fireghter Cummins backed the apparatus into position, he suered a heart attack. The apparatus, still in re

verse, let the roadway, backed through a corn eld, jumped a ditch, and came to rest in another ditch. Fireght

ers secured the apparatus and removed Fireghter Cummins rom the vehicle.

CPR was initiated and Fireghter Cummins was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He was pronounced

dead upon arrival.

November 1, 2010–1445 hrs

Richard E. “Rick” Drake, II, LieutenantAge 39, Volunteer • German Township Fire Department, Indiana

Lieutenant Drake responded to an EMS incident that involved diculty breathing. He provided patient care and as

sisted with liting the patient or transport by ambulance. The incident concluded at 1224 hours.

Ater their return to the re station, Lieutenant Drake began to perorm the weekly check on apparatus. His wie was

with him at the station. At approximately 1445 hours, Lieutenant Drake began to experience chest pains and other

signs o an acute heart attack. His wie called 911 or assistance and Lieutenant Drake also requested help by radio.

Fireghter and EMS responders arrived at the station and provided assistance. Lieutenant Drake was transported to the

hospital by ambulance but did not survive.



5


Leonard Arthur Murray, Jr., Fire CaptainAge 53, Volunteer • Jackson Township Fire Department, Indiana

A reghter/mechanic was making steering system repairs to a brush truck inside o the Jackson Township Fire

Department maintenance building. The mechanic turned the key to unlock the steering column. The brush truck

accidentally lunged orward.

At the same time the brush truck lunged orward, Captain Murray and another reghter were walking in ront othe vehicle. The other reghter was knocked clear but Captain Murray was crushed between the brush truck anda wall. He received a head injury and was killed instantly.




James C. Gumbert, Fireghter Age 63, Volunteer • North Irwin Volunteer Fire Department, Pennsylvania

Fireghter Gumbert responded to his re station or a mutualaid structure re. When he arrived at the re sta tion, he was experiencing chest pains and collapsed. Fireghters provided CPR in the re station and he was

transported by ambulance to the hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly ater his arrival.


Chance Hyatt Zobel, Fireghter Age 23, Career • Columbia Fire Department, South Carolina

Fireghter Zobel and his engine company were dispatched to a re in the median o a local highway. When his

company and another engine arrived on the scene, they positioned their apparatus in a shielding position to pro tect reghters rom trac.

As Fireghter Zobel and other reghters were extinguishing the re, a twovehicle crash occurred on the high way behind the apparatus. The crash caused one o the vehicles to slide between the guardrail and one o theengines. The vehicle entered the re scene and struck Fireghter Zobel and another reghter. Both reghters

were transported to the hospital. Fireghter Zobel died due to traumatic injuries.



5


Worne T. Hall, CaptainAge 86, Volunteer • Hitchens Volunteer Fire Department, Kentucky

Captain Hall and the members o his re department responded to a vehicle crash involving an ATV. CaptainHall’s department requested mutual aid rom another re department that brought an ATV capable o patienttransport. Once the patient was assessed, EMS responders requested a medical helicopter or transport.

Captain Hall was directed to set up a helispot or the medical helicopter at a local school. As the helicopter landedCaptain Hall collapsed o an apparent heart attack. He was treated by reghters and EMS responders, includingmembers o the helicopter crew, and transported to the hospital by ambulance. He could not be revived and waspronounced dead at the hospital.


Fernando Julio Sanchez, Inmate Fireghter Age 25, Wildland Part-Time • California Department of Corrections

Fireghter Sanchez was a passenger in a wildland crew carrier. There were as many as 12 reghters in the ve

hicle. An SUV crossed the centerline o the highway and crashed into the crew carrier. Several reghters were

ejected in the crash and a number received severe injuries. Fireghter Sanchez was killed in the crash.


Kenneth Marshall, Jr., Fireghter Age 33, Paid-on-Call • Rehoboth Fire Department, Massachusetts

Fireghter Marshall and the members o his re department were dispatched to a kitchen re. Fireghter Marshall

responded to the re station and was the driver o Engine 2 or the incident. As the apparatus responded, reght

ers noticed that Fireghter Marshall slumped over. Fireghters were able to stop the apparatus and remove Fire

ghter Marshall.

CPR was started and Fireghter Marshall was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The kitchen re was ound to be ood on the stove.




Gary M. Valentino, Fireghter Age 40, Career • Fire Department City of New York, New York

Fireghter Valentino was working in a lightduty assignment as a division driver. He had been on duty or approx

imately 12 hours when he became tired and went to rest in a bunkroom. Fellow reghters ound him uncon

scious approximately 3 hours later. Fireghter started CPR and EMS was requested. Fireghter Valentino could not

be revived.

December 6, 2010–2000 hrs

Dillon C. Denton, LieutenantAge 64, Volunteer • Charlotte Road/Van Wyck Fire Department, South Carolina

Lieutenant Denton participated in a training exercise with other reghters. Near the end o the exercise, Lieuten

ant Denton was assisting other reghters loading hose on an engine. Lieutenant Denton told other reghters

that he did not eel well and he was told to take a rest.

As Lieutenant Denton walked to an area where he could sit down, he stumbled. Fireghters came to his aid and

ound that he was seriously ill. An ambulance was called and Lieutenant Denton was fown by medical helicopter

to a regional medical acility.

Lieutenant Denton died as the result o a CVA at 0130 hours on December 7, 2010.

5


Jimmy W. Tuberville, Fire Chief Age 64, Volunteer • Milledgeville Fire Department, Tennessee

A wildland re was reported in the eld across rom the Milledgeville re station. Fireghters responded and used

fappers to extinguish the fames. Chie Tuberville drove the department’s brush truck to the scene and helped toght the re.

Chie Tuberville returned the tools he had used to the truck and was talking with reghters when he suddenly

collapsed. Fireghters ound that he had no pulse and began CPR while an ambulance was called. CPR was con

tinued in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Chie Tuberville was pronounced dead at the hospital.



5


Chad Lee Null, Fireghter/ParamedicAge 33, Career • Sullivan Fire Department, Indiana

At 0955 hours, Fireghter Null and his partner responded to their second EMS incident o the shit. The incident

involved a woman that had allen in a narrow hallway. Fireghter Null and his partner had to maneuver in close

quarters to place the patient on a backboard. In addition, the driveway o the home was covered with snow and

ice, so Fireghter Null and his partner had to carry the gurney and patient over the lawn to the ambulance. Fire

ghter Null and his partner arrived back at the re station at 1057 hours.

Fireghter Null went into the re station and began to complete reports on the day’s incidents. While other re

ghters were out o the room or a ew moments, Fireghter Null collapsed. Fireghters then entering the room

ound Fireghter Null and began to provide treatment, including CPR. He was transported to the hospital by

ambulance but was not revived. His death was caused by a heart attack.


Edward J. Stringer, Fireghter Age 47, Career • Chicago Fire Department, Illinois

Corey D. Ankum, Fireghter

Age 34, Career • Chicago Fire Department, IllinoisWhile working a re at a vacant commercial building, 16 reghters reportedly became trapped and were injured

ater the roo o the building collapsed. Two reghters, Fireghter Edward Stringer and Fireghter Corey An

kum, passed away rom injuries sustained in the incident.

Ten other reghters were reported to be in stable condition while our others were reported to be in criti

cal condition.





5


Thomas G. Hardy, Fire Chief Age 68, Volunteer • Athens Township Volunteer Fire Department, Michigan

Chie Hardy had just returned to the re station rom a re call when he suered a heart attack, ell to the foor,

and struck his head. He was treated by reghters and transported to the hospital. While in the hospital, Chie

Hardy’s condition worsened and he remained in a coma or several days beore passing away rom his injuries on

December 31, 2010.


Kenneth Adamo, CaptainAge 48, Volunteer • Elmwood Park Fire Department, New Jersey

Fireghter Adamo was on an emergency standby at his re station or the snow emergency declared by New JerseyActing Governor Stephen M. Sweeney. During his period o duty, Fireghter Adamo also reportedly responded toone call, a smoke detector sounding.

Upon release rom duty, Fireghter Adamo returned home and went to bed. He was ound deceased in his bed

the ollowing morning rom a suspected heart attack.

fIrefIghTer faTalITIes from prevIous years


Donnie Caldwell, LieutenantAge 71, Volunteer • Ghent Area Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia

The propane gas service or a local convenience store was being transerred rom one provider to another. Service

technicians rom the new provider were at the store to install the new propane tank, transer propane rom the oldtank to the new tank, and establish service or the store.

At 1042 hours, reghters were dispatched to the report o a gas leak at this local convenience store. FireghterDorsey was on duty and responded as a part o an ambulance crew. Fireghters arrived on the scene to nd anuncontrollable propane leak. Fireghters reported seeing a billowing cloud o vapor or mist that was striking theeaves o the building and traveling along the ground. An evacuation was begun.




An explosion occurred at approximately 1053 hours. Two reghters and two gas company employees were killedin the blast. Five other people received serious injuries. Among the injured was Lieutenant Caldwell. He died o complications o the injuries he received in the blast. Lieutenant Caldwell died on May 13, 2010, at the age o 74.

An investigation was completed by the United States Chemical Saety Board. Additional inormation about thisinvestigation can be ound at www.csb.gov/assets/document/CSBFinalReportLittleGeneral.pd

6


Peter James Coe, Fireghter Age 43, Volunteer • Shoreham Volunteer Fire Department, Vermont

Fireghter Coe and his amily were driving in his personal vehicle when they came upon a car that had run o o the road into the ditch. Fireghter Coe stopped his car and went out to see i the occupants o the vehicle neededassistance.

Fireghter Coe repositioned his vehicle and attached a tow strap between the vehicles to pull the disabled vehiclerom the ditch. As he returned to his car, he was struck and killed by a passing vehicle.

http://www.csb.gov/assets/document/CSBFinalReportLittleGeneral.pdf

http://www.csb.gov/assets/document/CSBFinalReportLittleGeneral.pdf



appendIx b

Firefighter Fatality Inclusion Criteria –

National Fire Service Organizations

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),

the National Fallen Fireghters Foundation (NFFF),

the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and other

organizations individually collect inormation

on reghter atalities in the United States. Each

organization uses a slightly dierent set o inclusion

criteria that are based, at least in part, on the purposes

o the inormation collection or each organization

and data consistency.

As a result o these diering inclusion criteria, sta

tistics about reghter atalities may be provided by

each organization that does not coincide with one

another. This section explains the inclusion criteria

or each organization and provides inormation about

these dierences.

The USFA includes reghters in this report that

died while on duty, became ill while on duty and

later died, or died within 24hours o an emergency

response or training, regardless o whether the re

ghter complained o illness while on duty. The USFA

counts reghter deaths that occur in the 50 States,

the District o Columbia, and United States protector

ates such as Puerto Rico and Guam. Detailed inclu

sion criteria or this report appear near the beginning

o report.

For 2010, the USFA reported 87 onduty reghter

atalities.

6

Fireighter Fatalities Resulting rom Incidents Occurring in 2010

100

75

50

25

0 Organization

87 72 71

USFA NFPA NFFF



InClusIon CrITerIa for nfpa’s annual

fIrefIghTer faTalITy sTudy

Introduction

Each year, the NFPA collects data on all reghter

atalities in the United States that resulted rom in

juries or illnesses that occurred while the victimswere onduty. The purpose o the study is to analyze

trends in the types o illnesses and injuries resulting

in deaths that occur while reghters are on the job.

This annual census o reghter atalities in its current

ormat dates back to 1977. (Between 1974 and 1976,

NFPA published a study o onduty reghter atalities

that was not as comprehensive.)

What is a Firefighter?

For the purpose o the NFPA study, the term frefghter covers all uniormed members o organized re de

partments, whether career, volunteer or combination,

or contract; ulltime public service ocers acting as

reghters; State and Federal government re ser

vice personnel; temporary re suppression personnel

operating under ocial auspices o one o the above;

and privately employed reghters, including trained

members o industrial or institutional re brigades,

whether ull or part time.

Under this denition, the study includes, besides uni ormed members o local career and volunteer re de

partments, those seasonal and ulltime employees o

State and Federal agencies who have re suppression

responsibilities as part o their job description, prison

inmates serving on reghting crews, military per

sonnel perorming assigned re suppression activities,

civilian reghters working at military installations,

and members o industrial re brigades. Impressed

civilians would also be included i called on by the

ocer in charge o the incident to carry out specic

duties. The NFPA study includes atalities that occur

in the 50 States and the District o Columbia.

What does ‘on duty’ mean?

The term on duty reers to being at the scene o an

alarm, whether a re or nonre incident; being en

route while responding to or returning rom an

alarm; perorming other assigned duties such as train

ing, maintenance, public education, inspection, inves

tigations, court testimony, and undraising; and being

oncall, under orders or on standby duty other than athome or at the individual’s place o business. Fatali

ties that occur at a reghter’s home may be counted

i the actions o the reghter at the time o injury

involved reghting or rescue.

Onduty atalities include any injury sustained in the

line o duty that proves atal, any illness that was in

curred as a result o actions while onduty that proves

atal, and atal mishaps involving nonemergency occu

pational hazards that occur while onduty. The types

o injuries included in the rst category are mainlythose that occur at an incident scene, in training, or

in accidents while responding to or returning rom

alarms. Illnesses (including heart attacks) are included

when the exposure or onset o symptoms are tied to a

specic incident o onduty activity. Those symptoms

must have been in evidence while the victim was on

duty or the atality to be included in the study.

Fatal injuries and illnesses are included, even in cases

where death is considerably delayed. When the onset

o the condition and the death occur in dierentyears, the incident is counted in the year o the condi

tion’s onset. Medical documentation specically tying

the death to the specic injury is required or inclu

sion o these cases in the study.

Categories not included in the study

The NFPA study does not include, members o re de

partment auxiliaries; nonuniormed employees o re

departments; emergency medical technicians (EMTs)

who are not also reghters; chaplains; or civiliandispatchers. The study also does not include suicides

as onduty atalities even when the suicide occurs on

re department property.

The NFPA recognizes that a comprehensive study o

reghter onduty atalities would include chronic ill

nesses (such as cardiovascular disease and certain can

cers) that prove atal and that arose rom occupational

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actors. In practice, there is, as o yet, no mechanism

or identiying onduty atalities that are due to illness

es that develop over long periods o time. This creates

an incomplete picture when comparing occupational

illnesses to other actors as causes o reghter deaths.

This is recognized as a gap the size o which cannot

be identied at this time because o the limitations

in tracking the exposure o reghters to toxic envi

ronments and substances and the potential longtermeects o such exposures.

2010 Experience

In 2010, a total o 72 onduty reghter deaths oc

curred in the United States, according to the NFPA

inclusion criteria.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

In 1997, re service leaders ormulated new

criteria to determine eligibility or inclusion onthe National Fallen Fireghter Memorial. Lineo

duty deaths (LODDs) shall be determined by the

ollowing standards:

1. (a) Deaths o ireighters meeting the Department

o Justice’s (DOJ’s) Public Saety Oicers’ Beneits

(PSOB) program guidelines, and those cases that

appear to meet these guidelines whether or not

PSOB sta has adjudicated the speciic case prior

to the annual National Fallen Fireighters Memorial

Service; and

(b) Deaths o ireighters rom injuries, heart at

tacks, or illnesses documented to show a direct

link to a speciic emergency incident or depart

mentmandated training activity.

2. While PSOB guidelines only cover public saety o

icers, the Foundation’s criteria also include con

tract ireighters and ireighters employed by a

private company, such as those in an industrial bri

gade, provided that the deaths meet the standards

listed above.

3. Some speciic cases will be excluded rom consid

eration, such as deaths attributable to suicide, al

cohol or substance abuse, or other gross abuses as

speciied in the PSOB guidelines.

The National Fallen Fireghters Memorial was built

in 1981 in Emmitsburg, MD. The names listed there

begin with those reghters who died in the line o

duty that year. The U.S. Congress created the NFFF to

lead a nationwide eort to remember America’s allen

reghters. Since 1992, the taxexempt, nonprot

Foundation has developed and expanded programs to

honor our allen re heroes and assist their amilies

and coworkers by providing them with resources torebuild their lives. Since 1997, the Foundation has

managed the National Memorial Service held each

October to honor the reghters who died in the line

o duty the previous year.

At the October 2011 Memorial Weekend, the Founda

tion will be honoring 89 reghters who died in the

line o duty. O those 89 being honored, 71 died in

2010 as the result o incidents that occurred in 2010,

and 18 others who died in previous years as the result

o incidents that occurred in previous years.

The ollowing section is a listing o the reghters

that will be honored by the Foundation in October o

2011.

Fireghter deaths that occurred in 2010 as the result

o an incident that occurred in 2010:

Arizona

David J. Irr

Yuma Rural/Metro Fire Department

Dennis W. Robinson

Three Points Fire District

Arkansas

Christopher W. Adams

Arkansas Forestry Commission

David A. Curlin

Pine Blu Fire and Emergency Services

Henry SandyNorthside Volunteer Fire Department

California

James M. Owen

Orange County Fire Authority


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Fernando J. Sanchez

Caliornia Department o Corrections

James C. Saunders

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District

Connecticut

Bruce M. Bachinsky

Waterbury Fire Department

Michel Baik

Bridgeport Fire Department

Kevin J. Swan

Beacon Hose Co. No. 1

Steven J. Velasquez

Bridgeport Fire Department

Georgia

Cecil J. Brown

Gresston Volunteer Fire DepartmentIllinois

Corey D. Ankum

Chicago Fire Department

Brian C. Carey

Homewood Fire Department

Gary L. Cummins

Brocton Fire Protection District

Frank W. Fouts, V

City o Kankakee Fire Department

Thomas D. Innes

Hindsboro Community Fire Protection District

Mark P. Johnson

Hinsdale Fire Department

Edward J. Stringer


Christopher D. Wheatley


Indiana

Richard E. Drake, II

German Township Fire Department

Chad L. Null

Sullivan Fire Department

Ronald W. Stephan

Lynn Volunteer Fire Department

Iowa

Steven S. Crannell

Guthrie Center Fire Department

Kansas

Stanley L. GilesLinn Valley Lakes Fire Department

John B. Glaser

Shawnee Fire Department

Harold D. Reed, Sr.

Peru Fire District #3

Jonathan L. Siemers

Clay Center Fire Department

Larry W. Suiter

Lorraine Green Garden Fire DepartmentKentucky

Terry L. Cannon

Buechel Fire Protection District

Worne T. Hall

Hitchens Volunteer Fire Department

Maine

Brian J. Rowe

West Forks Volunteer Fire Department

Massachusetts

Kenneth Marshall, Jr.

Rehoboth Fire Department

David A. Sullivan

Otis Fire Department

Michigan

Thomas G. Hardy

Athens Township Volunteer Fire Department

Mississippi Jerry W. Thompson

Linwood Volunteer Fire Department

Missouri

Randall S. Davenport

Marshall Fire Department


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Donald D. Schaper

Timber Knob Volunteer Fire Department

New Jersey

Kenneth Adamo

Elmwood Park Fire Department

Edward J. Eckert

Staord Township Volunteer Fire Company #1

New York

William E. Akin

Ghent Volunteer Fire Company Number One

Scott W. Davis

Oswego Fire Department

Vincent A. Iaccino

Roosevelt Fire District Engine Company #1

John Kelly

Tarrytown Fire DepartmentLeRoy A. Kemp

Tioga Center Fire Department

Garrett W. Loomis

Sackets Harbor Fire Department

Gerard Marcheterre

Borodino Fire Department

Ohio

Joseph McCaerty

Lancaster Fire Department

Leo A. Powell

Morgan Township Volunteer Fire Department

Ryan N. Seitz

McArthur Fire Department

Edward D. Teare

Independence Fire Department

Daniel C. Wilson

Jerusalem Township Fire Department

Oklahoma

Paul E. Johnson

Crow Roost Fire Department

Pennsylvania

Douglas Farrington

Delta Cardi Volunteer Fire Company

James C. Gumbert

North Irwin Volunteer Fire Department

Charles P. Hornberger

Milmont Park Fire Company Station #49

Donald G. Mellott

Woolrich Volunteer Fire Company No. 1

John Polimine

Scalp Level & Paint Volunteer Fire Company

Douglas L. Smith

Liberty Hose Company No. 1

Richard L. Springman

Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company

South Carolina

Dillon C. Denton

Charlotte Road/Van Wyck Fire Department

Chance H. ZobelColumbia Fire Department

Tennessee

Jimmy W. Tuberville

Milledgeville Fire Department

Texas

Thomas T. Araguz, III

Wharton Volunteer Fire Department

Vermont

Steven N. Costello

Burlington Fire Department

Virginia

William D. Altice

Rocky Mount Fire Department #1

William H. Clark

Atlantic Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company

Posey W. Dillon

Rocky Mount Fire Department #1

Washington

Chet D. Bauermeister

Franklin County Fire District 4

West Virginia

Donald W. Adkins, III

Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department

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deaThs from prevIous years

Alabama

Steven F. Bouchard

Snowdoun Volunteer Fire Department

John E. Lee, III

City o Pelham Fire DepartmentCalifornia

Bryan K. Zollner

CAL Fire

Florida

Victor B. Scott

Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department

Michael A. Trullinger

Chattahootchie Volunteer Fire Department

Kansas

Urban A. Eck

Wichita Fire Department

Louisiana

Tommy L. Adams

Shreveport Fire Department

Maryland

Donald W. Hubbel

Baltimore City Fire Department

New York

Erich Lachmann

Washington Heights Fire Department

Salvatore Scarentino

Fire Department o New York

Jose L. Welenosky

Holtsville Fire Department

North CarolinaRichard A. Miller

Belmont Fire Department

Ohio

Gregory A. Northup

Gallipolis Fire Department

Sammy R. Smith

Village o Antwerp

Oregon

Steven A. UptegroveUSDA Forest Service, WallowaWhitman

National Forest

Pennsylvania

Richard A. Burns

Pittsburgh Bureau o Fire

Tennessee

Timothy A. Byrd

DoverStewart County Rescue Squad

Vermont

Peter J. Coe

Shoreham Volunteer Fire Department

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