Firefighter Close Calls

NEW LONDON, Conn. — While firefighters’ risk of contracting cancers linked to toxins in the smoke and soot they encounter has long been established, their chances of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, has only recently begun to attract attention. “It’s sort of a newer risk,” Dr. Mary Ann Bentz, a dermatologist in private practice in […]

On 4/29/1986 the Los Angeles (California) Central Library fire destroyed more than $2 million in the structure and $20 million of the contents. The fire required 60 fire companies, 9 rescue ambulances, 2 helicopters, 40 command officers, and over 350 firefighters, approximately 45% of the LAFD. A smoke detector was activated at 10:52 a.m. and […]

Heavy, black smoke could be seen for miles Sunday, April 28, as fire crews worked a structure fire at the Wheel Shop, located at 1655 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard in Clarksville. Officers with the Clarksville Police Department shut the roadway down in both directions as firefighters with Clarksville Fire Rescue ran fire hoses across the road. […]

BROOKLYN (PIX11) — More than 100 firefighters were called to put out a massive fire in Besonhurt Tuesday afternoon; fire officials said. Firefighters responded to a 911 call just after 1 p.m., at 2050 71 Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire on the first and second floors of the building. Multiple people managed to escape […]

An arbitrator decided Dominic Biscari could only be suspended for three days after he ran a red light in fire truck and crashed into a car, killing the driver, passenger and a bystander. Biscari pleaded guilty to three felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. Kansas City officials are hoping to overturn an arbitrator’s decision that a […]

A firefighter was one of two people who were injured earlier this week in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 52 and Lorton Lick Road in Mercer County. An F-550 pickup truck with the Bluewell Volunteer Fire Department and a Subaru Outback were in a crash Monday, April 22, near the Family Dollar […]

GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — The family of a Kentucky EMT who was killed in an ambulance crash in early April has filed a lawsuit. Chastian Mcwhorter, 26, was killed on April 1 after an ambulance he was working in crashed into a box truck in Garrard County. According to KSP, it happened around […]

From the Orland Fire Protection District, IL Facebook Page: The Orland Professional Firefighters suffered a very unfortunate accident to one of our firefighters. During a routine training exercise at the fire department, Firefighter Razek fell from a ladder while exiting a second-floor window. The accident resulted in several severe injuries, requiring surgery and extensive medical treatment. As […]

CINCINNATI — WLWT has obtained video of a heart-stopping moment when a Cincinnati fire engine lost control and flipped while responding to a call. A crash report indicates that four firefighters were in the truck at the time, and all walked away without serious injuries. The crash took place around 10:30 a.m. on April 8. […]

On 4/28/1873 two Iowa City, Iowa firefighters “died of the injuries they sustained after a wall had collapsed while they were operating at a fire at Market Hall, at the corner of Dubuque Street and Iowa Avenue.” On 4/28/1903 a Portland, Maine firefighter “died as a result of being badly burned two days earlier at […]

An investigation is continuing after an early morning fire broke out at a house in South Knoxville on Friday. When crews arrived, they were met with a chaotic scene beyond the flames. Around 3:30 Friday morning, Knoxville Fire was called to a house fire in the 200 block of Stone Road. When crews arrived they found […]

A fire destroyed a Lake Waccamaw (North Carolina) firefighter’s residence Thursday afternoon in Byrdville. The mobile home was already engulfed in flames when fire crews were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. Timothy Rossell, a member of Lake Waccamaw Fire Department, owned the home and lived there with his family, according to Jonathan Juhl, Columbus County deputy fire […]

SACRAMENTO — Two people was hospitalized following a crash involving a Sacramento Fire Department ambulance in the downtown area, officials said Friday afternoon. It happened shortly after 3  p.m. at the intersection of 5th and L streets. Sacramento Fire said the crew in the ambulance was headed to the jail due to a medical emergency. […]

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Police say a woman asked paramedics for a ride before stealing their ambulance from Memorial Hermann in Pearland overnight. Houston police said the keys were left inside the Houston Fire Department ambulance parked at the hospital. The paramedics told the woman they would get to her in a minute, and that’s […]

On 4/27/1865 the SS Sultana boiler explosion and fire killed 1,547 in the Mississippi River just north of Memphis, Tennessee. Many of the victims were soldiers from the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp at Andersonville, Georgia. The 260’ boat was authorized to carry 376 passengers and crew, when the Sultana left Vicksburg, it carried 2,100 troops and […]

NORWOOD — A Norwood man has been issued two traffic tickets after striking a Seaway Valley ambulance while backing out of his driveway. State police say Daniel N. Valyou, 50, was ticketed after backing out of a driveway at approximately 9:36 a.m. on April 23, at which time he failed to yield the right of […]

Authorities in Oklahoma City responded after a vehicle crashed into an ambulance Wednesday morning, causing it to roll over. Oklahoma City Police and firefighters responded to the scene shortly after 1 a.m. near Northwest 10th Street and North Classen Boulevard. OCPD said the driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital, but it […]

On 4/26/1903 two Portland, Maine firefighters died at “a spectacular lumberyard fire on a wharf that was threatening the entire waterfront as a stiff breeze off the harbor blew burning embers over the entire area. Second and third alarms were struck as flaming embers landed in other lumberyards and wharves to the east and west […]

Hillcrest Fire Department Fire Chief Michael Scott suffered a head injury Tuesday when he fell from one of the station’s fire trucks, according to the department. “On Tuesday afternoon, the Fire Chief was assisting with vehicle washing and maintenance when he fell from the fire engine and suffered a head injury. He has since been […]

Close to 200 firefighters and family members of the late Preston Heinbigner packed the Manitoba legislature Monday to pay tribute to their colleague and loved one as the government announced more help for the helpers is on the way. The 40-year-old firefighter, husband and father died by suicide earlier this month, sparking calls for better […]