Firefighter Close Calls

Firefighter Fatally Injured After Being Struck by Hoseline and Falling From Ladder During Second Alarm Fire in Convent School – St. Rose’s Academy Fire – San Francisco, California – October 6, 1893 On October 6, 1893, San Francisco Fireman John Cronin of Engine Company 19 fell to his death after being struck by a loose […]

Two Firefighters Killed By Collapsing Walls During Conflagration That Destroyed Forty Buildings – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 4-5, 1839 On the night of October 4-5, 1839, Philadelphia Volunteer Firemen Thomas Barber and William P. Moreland of the Good Will Engine Company were killed when they were caught under collapsing walls while operating at a fire […]

Two firefighters are recovering from injuries suffered while battling a house fire in O’Fallon, Missouri, Sunday afternoon. The fire happened at a home on the 100 block of Boatside Court in St. Charles County, near Missouri Route 364. The Wentzville Fire Department said crews received multiple calls after 2 p.m. about a house fire with […]

During a scheduled training evolution at an acquired structure, a serious near-miss incident occurred involving a firefighter participating in a bailout exercise. The acquired structure was a two-story single-family dwelling. The training plan and previously developed executive summary identified the two-story structure specifically for Denver Drill and VEIS (Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search) training. The structure’s training objectives did […]

An Eagle Rock assistant fire chief has died of injuries suffered during a swift water rescue a decade ago. Assistant Chief Alan “Bubba” Wright was swept away by fast-moving water while assisting with rescue efforts after extreme flooding in 2016. Fire Chief Darryl Jones told WDBJ shortly after the incident that he didn’t initially know […]

Assistant Chief Engineer and Two Firemen Killed in Fire Collapse of Lodging House – The Owl Lodging House Fire – San Francisco, California – October 5, 1917 On October 5, 1917, First Assistant Chief Engineer Stephen D. Russell, Hoseman Joseph L. Allen of Engine 9 and Truckman Timothy F. Collins of Truck 1 were killed, […]

Six Firefighters Killed by Collapsing Walls During Furniture Store Fire – Keenan and Jahn’s Furniture Store Fire – Detroit, Michigan – October 5, 1894 On October 5, 1894, Detroit Fire Lieutenant Michael Donaghue, Ladderman Julius Cummings, Pipemen Martin Ball, Joseph Dely, and John Pagel, and Volunteer Fireman Fred Bussey were killed by collapsing walls as […]

The Londonderry firefighter who caught fire during a call is now recovering at home. Lieutenant Mike England was responding to a house fire Friday night when a flashover broke out in the house. That’s when a room fills with hot air and smoke, then the entire room catches fire. He says he was inside because […]

Four Firefighters Killed After Being Trapped in Elevator During Four-Alarm Warehouse Fire – Philadelphia. Pennsylvania – October 4, 1922 On October 4, 1922, Philadelphia Firemen Albert Fisher and Patrick Murray of Engine 21, and Thomas Gilloway, and Edward Paxson of Truck 2 were killed after becoming trapped in a stalled elevator car while battling an […]

Six Firefighters Killed in Fire Collapse During School Fire – Christian Brothers College Fire – St. Louis, Missouri – October 5, 1916 On October 5, 1916, St. Louis, Missouri Fire Lieutenants Harry Budde and Michael Waters, and Firemen William Kuhnert, John Parshall, August Sturmfels, and George Young, along with four residents were killed in a […]

BALTIMORE —The man accused of setting a vacant rowhome on fire in January 2022 that killed three Baltimore firefighters will stand trial next week after a jury was seated. On Friday, 58-year-old James Barnett stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the judge’s bench, seemingly engaged in the jury selection process. The jury […]

Four firefighters were injured while battling a house fire in Palm Coast that destroyed the home of resident Tovia House-Caldwell and left her family without a home. Her dog was trapped inside as the flames spread. FOX 35 reported that the fire displaced House-Caldwell and her family and destroyed their home. The outlet also reported […]

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking participants for a brief survey about line-of-duty deaths (LODD) and serious injury investigations. If you have already completed the survey, we greatly appreciate your participation. If you have not, we hope you will consider completing the survey and asking others in your department to […]

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Tank Explosion Kills Two Firefighters – Carthage, Illinois – October 2, 1997 – USFA Technical Report TR-120 On October 2, 1997, Carthage Clipper Fire Department Volunteer Firefighters Michael Mapes and Douglas Buckert died when a horizontal liquified petroleum gas tank exploded on a farm outside of Burnside, Illinois. The rocketing tank struck […]

Rochester, N.Y. — One person has died from injuries suffered in a house fire on the city’s north side early Friday morning, according to the Rochester Fire Department. Firefighters responded around 3:40 a.m. to a home on Avenue D between Harris Street and Conkey Avenue after callers reported flames coming from the back of the […]

Two Fire Officers Killed and Six Firefighters Seriously Injured in Roof Collapse During Mercantile Fire – Knox Five and Ten Cent Store Fire – Youngstown, Ohio – October 1, 1908 On October 1, 1908, Youngstown Ohio First Assistant Fire Chief Thomas C. Reilly and Fire Captain Charles Vaughan were killed when the roof of a […]

Firefighter Killed and Two Others Injured in Fall After Rescue Attempt During Arson Fire in Wood Frame Multiple Dwelling – Waverly Street Fire – Yonkers, New York – October 2, 2009 On October 2, 2009, Yonkers Firefighter Patrick Joyce of Rescue 1 was killed and two other firefighters seriously injured while searching for two women […]

A firefighter was injured Wednesday while battling a brush fire in Leona Valley that scorched about 15 acres of vegetation. Fire crews responded around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 10000 block of Elizabeth Lake Road regarding a brush fire that initially burned about 2 acres, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The department […]

Two Firefighters Die and Eight Firefighters Injured in Silo Explosion at Lumber Company – New Knoxville, Ohio – October 1, 2003 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2003-32 On October 1, 2003, New Bremen Ohio Firefighters Kenneth Jutte and John Garman were fatally injured in a silo explosion at a lumber company. The firefighters responded to […]

Firefighters could be seen working on the roof of a Manayunk rowhome Wednesday morning as smoke poured from the building where a woman was killed and two first responders were hurt, officials said. At about 9 a.m. on Sept. 30, NBC10’s SkyForce 10 captured footage of fire crews working to stop flames as they tore […]