Firefighter Close Calls

A firefighter who caught fire while at a burning house in Londonderry last week has released a statement thanking his crew. Lt. Mike England said he has received an outpouring of support since Oct. 2, when he caught fire during a flashover while he was inside a burning house. In a statement on social media, […]

MANCHESTER — An Ocean County town is mourning the sudden death of its fire chief, who was struck by a driver police say was under the influence of alcohol and killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike early Tuesday morning. Brian Flanagan, 47, of Manchester, was part of a roadway striping crew working […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Wall Collapse Caused by Backdraft During Four-Alarm Tobacco Store Fire – Washington Tobacco Company Fire – Washington, District of Columbia – October 14, 1911 On October 14, 1911, District of Columbia Fire Captain Timothy J. Brown and Fireman Michael A. Downs of Engine 4 were killed while fighting a four-alarm fire […]

Dynamite Storage Warehouse Explosion Kills Four Army Firefighters and Two Soldiers – Japonski Island, Sitka, Alaska – October 13, 1941 An explosion of a storage warehouse containing 21 tons of dynamite and ammunition rocked a military installation under construction on Japonski Island across the channel from Sitka, Alaska on October 13, 1941. The blast killed […]

High-Rise Apartment Fire Claims Life of Fire Captain – Houston, Texas – October 13, 2001 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2001-22  On October 13, 2001, Houston Fire Captain Jay Jahnke of Engine 2 died, and another fire officer was injured while fighting an apartment fire on the 5th floor of a 41-story high-rise condominium apartment […]

On 10/11/2026, while responding to a motor vehicle accident on I-85, a passing vehicle struck Concord Engine Co. 9. Fortunately, no firefighters were hurt. We cannot stress this enough: when you see emergency vehicles operating in the roadway, SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER! Please take your time and keep everyone safe.

Eight Alarm Fire in 27-Story High-Rise Apartment Building for the Elderly Nearly Claims Life of One Firefighter – Council Tower Apartment Building – St. Louis, Missouri – October 12, 1998 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F98-26 & USFA Technical Report TR-119 On October 12, 1998, while attempting a rescue, two St. Louis firefighters became disoriented […]

Two Firefighters Die & Two Firefighters Injured During Arson Fire and Structural Collapse in Multi-Occupancy Building – Kansas City, Missouri – October 12, 2015 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2015-15 On October 12, 2015, Kansas City Fire Apparatus Operator Larry Leggio and Firefighter John Mesh were killed when a 90-year-old building collapsed during an arson […]

Fire Captain Fatally Burned in Flashover During Tenement Fire – The Bronx, New York – October 11, 1985 On October 11, 1985, FDNY Captain James F. McDonnell was fatally burned in a flashover while he was fighting a fire in an apartment in a five-story tenement in The Bronx. Assigned to the 3rd Division, Captain […]

Firefighter Killed by Truss Roof and Wall Collapse During Auto Dealership Fire – Eugene, Oregon – October 11, 1966 On October 11, 1966, Eugene Oregon Engineer Harold Stinson was killed while fighting a general alarm fire at the Kendall Ford auto dealership in the downtown section of the city. Stinson was manning the nozzle of […]

Firefighter Dies in Residential Row House Structure Fire – Baltimore, Maryland – October 10, 2006 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2006-28 On October 10, 2006, Baltimore City Firefighter Allan Roberts was fatally injured while advancing a hoseline during a residential two-story row house fire. Arriving firefighters found heavy black smoke pouring from the front of […]

Three Firefighters Killed and Two Severely Injured in Wall Collapse During Warehouse Conflagration – The Crenshaw Warehouse Fire – Richmond, Virginia – October 10, 1915 On October 10, 1915, one of the most disastrous fires the City of Richmond Virginia has ever experienced swept an old brick warehouse that stored thousands of pounds of tobacco […]

Fire Captain Killed in Backdraft During a Fire in One-Story Strip Store – Little Rock, Arkansas – October 8, 1940 On October 8, 1940, Little Rock Fire Captain William E. Blevins died while battling a working fire involving a one-story strip store building housing four mercantile businesses. As firefighters began to stretch a 2.5-inch hoseline […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Floor Collapse During Multi-Alarm Fire in Mercantile Building – The Crocker Building Fire – San Francisco, California – October 8, 1885 On October 8, 1885, Assistant Foreman Martin H. Hannan and Hoseman Peter F. Healy of Engine Company No. 4 were killed during a multiple alarm fire in a mercantile loft […]

Four firefighters were injured in a fire after responding to a report of a freon leak at a Silver Lake home, the Los Angeles Fire Department said Wednesday. The fire was reported on Lakewood Avenue North near Armstrong Avenue at around 10:48 a.m., according the LAFD. The agency said a small explosion was reported after […]

Firefighter Killed in Backdraft in Cockloft During Arson Fire in Tenement Dwelling – 40-04 36th Avenue, Queens, New York – Queens Box 7396 – October 8, 1995 On October 8, 1995, FDNY Firefighter Peter McLaughlin of Rescue 4 was killed while performing a search on the top floor at a fire in a tenement building […]

Deputy Fire Marshal Killed in Floor Collapse at Three-Alarm Restaurant Fire – Streamdine Cafeteria Fire – Chicago, Illinois – October 8, 1954 n October 8, 1954, Chicago Fire Department Second Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Conners died in the line of duty while fighting an extra alarm fire at the Streamdine Cafeteria on Roosevelt Road on […]

A partial roof collapse left two firefighters trapped at a Charlotte house fire. The firefighters escaped without injury, Charlotte Battalion Chief John Lipsack told Queen City News.  While the RIT was activated, the firefighters found their own way out. Investigators are investigating the cause of the fire.

Firefighter Suffers Out-of-Air Emergency and Dies During Apartment Building Fire – Hartford, Connecticut – October 7, 2014 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2014-19 On October 7, 2014, Hartford Firefighter Kevin Bell of Engine 16 died while conducting interior firefighting operations during a two-story residential apartment fire. At 1830 hours, Engine 16 was dispatched to a […]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two firefighters escaped without injury Wednesday morning after falling eight feet through a floor into a basement fire while responding to a residential structure fire. Crews were dispatched at 6 a.m. Wednesday to a fire at Alcazar Street and Marquette Avenue, near Louisiana Boulevard. The building was a vacant structure that showed […]