Firefighter Close Calls

Ten Firefighters Killed During Conflagration Fire That Destroyed Several Blocks – The South Water Street Fire – Chicago, Illinois – October 19, 1857  Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 19, 1857, Foreman John Dickey of Hose Company 6 became the first Chicago volunteer firefighter to die in the line of duty. Foreman Dickey was killed […]

Fire Lieutenant Kim Jinseok, 44, who went into cardiac arrest while battling a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, has died. According to the National Fire Agency on the 17th, Kim, who had been receiving treatment at a hospital in an unconscious state after being rescued from the fire scene the previous day, passed away […]

DES MOINES, Iowa — One person was hospitalized with “significant injuries” and two firefighters were treated for minor injuries after an overnight house fire on the south side of Des Moines, the Des Moines Fire Department said. DMFD Chief Jonathan Lund told Local 5 that crews were dispatched to a residence in the 2800 block […]

SPERRY, Okla. – Sperry Fire Chief Mitchell Williamson is facing a misdemeanor assault and battery charge after an argument during a department meeting about a text message led to a physical confrontation with another firefighter. According to court documents, Sperry Fire Department members were called to a meeting on Sept. 17 to discuss internal issues, […]

Firefighter Dies After Falling Down Elevator Shaft While Conducting Roof Ventilation During Fire in Former Cold Storage Building Under Renovation – Manhattan, New York – October 17, 1970 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 17, 1970, FDNY Rescue 1 Firefighter Edward J. Tuite was killed when he stepped onto a boarded over area and fell […]

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — A firefighter and resident were injured after a lithium-ion-powered skateboard caught on fire inside an apartment in Somerville Thursday night. Somerville firefighters said they responded shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night for a report of a fire on North Street. Firefighters said there was heavy smoke in the basement apartment of […]

Twelve FDNY Firefighters Perish in Floor Collapse During Drug Store Fire – The 23rd Street Fire – Manhattan, New York – October 17, 1966 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 17, 1966, a fire in the basement of a commercial occupancy in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York claimed the lives of a dozen […]

Firefighter Fatally Injured in Fall Through Skylight While Operating at Restaurant Fire – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 15, 1919 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 15, 1919, Philadelphia Ladderman George Wiest, Jr. of Truck 2 was fatally injured after falling through a skylight while operating at the scene of a fire in a restaurant in […]

Two Fire Patrol Members Killed in Fire Collapse While Conducting Salvage Operations During Building Fire – 21 West 17th Street, Manhattan, New York – October 16, 1949 Submitted by Rick DeGroot On October 16, 1949, New York City Fire Patrolmen Frederick C. Lehman and Daniel P. Shea of Fire Patrol 3 were killed while conducting […]

SAN ANTONIO – Two firefighters were injured Wednesday morning while battling a massive fire at a vacant apartment complex on the North Side. The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. at the Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane, prompting a three-alarm response involving approximately 150 firefighters and additional support crews. San Antonio […]

STARK COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – A driver failed to slow down or move over and slammed into a Canton Fire Department vehicle on the scene of an accident Wednesday evening. The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on I-77 south near milepost 107.5 in Canton. According to Canton police, firefighters were investigating a prior crash around […]

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A New Hanover County Fire Rescue vehicle ran a red light and overturned, causing a three-vehicle crash that stopped traffic Tuesday evening at the intersection of Market Street and Barclay Hills Drive, the Wilmington Police Department said. The department said the call came in at 6:26 p.m. on Oct. 13. Wilmington […]

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) — Six people were hurt after a fire broke out Tuesday morning at a five-story apartment building in Washington Heights, prompting a response from dozens of firefighters and EMS personnel, according to the FDNY. The fire was reported at 11:17 a.m. on the fifth floor of a building at 598 W. […]

As investigations continue into the devastating fire that broke out early Tuesday morning (Oct. 13) near 44th and Chestnut Streets, community leaders and local officials are expressing their deep sorrow and offering support to those impacted. The fast-moving blaze began just after 6 a.m. on the third floor of a multi-family building that hosts the […]

Firefighter Killed While Making Interior Fire Attack During Two Alarm Arson Fire in Abandoned Lounge – Astro Shanta Lounge Fire – Memphis, Tennessee – October 15, 1977 On October 15, 1977, Memphis Tennessee Firefighter Martiniano R. Lerma of Squad 1 was killed while operating at an arson fire involving an abandoned cocktail lounge. The members […]

Five Firefighters Killed in Fire Collapse of Timber Truss Roof of Bowling Alley – Cardinal Lanes – Cliffside Park, New Jersey – October 15, 1967 During the early morning hours of October 15, 1967, some 150 firefighters from the East Bergen area of Bergen County, New Jersey responded to a fire in a bowling alley […]

A Baltimore judge granted a defense motion to toss three counts of second-degree murder against the man charged in the 2022 Stricker Street fire. James Barnett, 58, is on trial for the fire that killed three Baltimore City firefighters and seriously injured a fourth. The state and defense rested their cases late Tuesday afternoon, and […]

Three firefighters have been taken to hospital following a collision between a fire engine and three other vehicles. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue said the crash took place when the crew was responding to an incident at about 11:00 BST on Tuesday. The incident happened on the northbound section of the A43, by Barford Bridge, between […]

A historic Black church in South Los Angeles, severely damaged in two previous fires, went up in flames for a third time before sunrise Monday. A fire at the vacant house of worship at East 27th and Paloma streets was reported just after 3:30 a.m., and the two-story wooden building “looks like it’s going to […]

Two firefighters were injured in a large fire that consumed two commercial buildings in south Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. According to the Minneapolis Fire Department, the fire was reported at 4:03 p.m. at a single-story building located at 1300 East Franklin Avenue. Firefighters searched the building after receiving reports of people running out of it, […]