Firefighter Close Calls

Five Firefighters Killed in Truss Roof Collapse at Automobile Dealership Fire – Hackensack, New Jersey – July 1, 1988 – New Jersey Bureau of Fire Safety Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report & NFPA Summary Investigative Report On July 1, 1988, Hackensack New Jersey Fire Captain Richard Williams, Lieutenant Richard Reinhagen and Firefighters William Kresja, Leonard Radumski […]

Two Firefighters Fatally Injured in Wall Collapse While Operating at Fire in Automotive Manufacturing Plant – Texas Wheel and Body Company Fire – Dallas, Texas – June 30, 1923 On June 30, 1923, Dallas Texas Fire Captain Albert Burris of Engine 10 died as a result of serious crushing injuries he received when a wall […]

Fire Chief Killed and Firefighter Seriously Injured in Wall Collapse During Department Store Fire – State Dry Goods Store Fire – Fort Collins, Colorado – June 29, 1965 On June 29, 1965, Fort Collins Colorado Fire Chief Clifford Carpenter was killed by falling bricks and mortar when a wall collapsed during a fire at the […]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – A firefighter was injured after a garbage truck tire blew out while crews were checking the vehicle following a commercial vehicle fire in Montgomery County on Thursday, according to Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. The incident happened after Montgomery County ESD 1 responded to a reported commercial vehicle fire involving […]

Two firefighters were injured while responding to a house fire in Garner on Old Cascade Drive, around 6:15 a.m. They were injured while accessing a fire inside a wall. One firefighter needed stitches, another was treated for exhaustion, according to Garner Fire Chief Barrett Penny. Five fire departments worked to extinguish the fire: Garner, Cleveland, […]

  Fire Captain Killed in Floor Collapse During Restaurant – White Shutter Restaurant Fire – Bay Ridge, Brooklyn – June 27, 1961 On June 27, 1961, FDNY Fire Captain Walter Bersig of Ladder 149 was killed during an early morning three-alarm fire in a one-story restaurant when the floor collapsed and Captain Bersig was hurled […]

Firefighter/Engineer Fatally Injured After Falling Through Translucent Corrugated Roof Panel While Searching for Fire Extension – Denver, Colorado – June 28, 2015 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2015-13 On June 28, 2015, Denver Firefighter/Engineer John Whelan was critically injured after falling through a translucent corrugated roof panel. The firefighter was the engineer on Truck 8, […]

Five Firefighters Killed By Wall Collapse After Backdraft During Warehouse Fire – Minneapolis, Minnesota – June 27, 1895 On June 27, 1895, five Minneapolis firefighters were killed after a backdraft collapsed an exterior wall of a burning crockery warehouse. The fire was spotted by alert firefighters at a nearby fire station and, after quickly sounding […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Rope Rescue Attempt During Three-Alarm Multiple Dwelling Fire – Harlem, Manhattan, New York – June 27, 1980 On June 27, 1980, New York Fire Department (FDNY) Firefighter Gerard Frisby of Ladder 28, and Firefighter Lawrence Fitzpatrick of Rescue 3 were killed during a three-alarm fire in a seven-story apartment building in […]

Acting Fire Officer Dies from Floor Collapse during Interior Fire Attack –Leonardtown, Maryland – June 27, 2023 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2023-09 & After Action Report & Improvement Plan On June 27, 2023, Firefighter Brice Clayton Trossbach of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Station Fire Department died after falling into a basement […]

Firefighter Fatally Injured in Ceiling Collapse During Fire in Abandoned School – Brooklyn, New York – June 26, 1964 On June 26, 1964, FDNY Fireman Ernest Marquart of Squad 3 was fatally injured in a ceiling collapse while operating during a fire that was set by children playing in an abandoned three-story brick and wood […]

Three Firefighters and Three Civilians Killed in Explosion of Dynamite Cargo Truck– Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania – June 26, 1964 On June 26, 1964, Marshalls Creek Volunteer Firemen Leonard Mosier, Francis Earl Miller, and Edward Franklin Hines were killed along with three civilians when a tractor trailer truck filled with an unlabeled cargo of 15 tons […]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is responding to an ambulance fire late Thursday afternoon. The fire broke out inside an ambulance at Monterey Road and Lassen Drive, across from Monterey Elementary School. CSFD reported that ambulance crews were on scene of a home for a medical emergency when it […]

Three Whidbey Island firefighters were injured today when a home exploded in Greenbank. The firefighters are not yet being identified, but they are from Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, and South Whidbey Fire/EMS; the injured include two chiefs and one firefighter. Two were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center, the third to Island Hospital […]

Deputy Fire Chief Dies after Falling Through Floor in Residential Structure During Fire Attack – Lafayette, Indiana – June 25, 2006 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2006-24 On June 25, 2006, Deputy Fire Chief Steven Smith of the Wea Township Volunteer Fire Department in Lafayette, Indiana died after falling through a failed section of floor […]

From the Kenosha County Scanner Facebook Page: A Tuesday evening house fire in the Village of Somers resulted in significant damage to a residence and sent one firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries. According to Somers Fire & Rescue, crews were dispatched at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 23 to a reported structure fire […]

Arizona firefighters will no longer have to fight insurance companies over a typo in state law. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law Monday what’s known as the “comma bill.” PHOENIX — Arizona firefighters will no longer have to fight insurance companies over a typo in state law. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law […]

Fire Lieutenant Killed in Pier Warehouse Fire While Searching for Lost Firefighters – Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts – June 24, 1994 On June 24, 1994, Boston Fire Lieutenant Steven Minehan of Ladder 15 died after leading his company in a successful search for two other trapped firefighters at a smoky nine alarm blaze in a vacant […]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – On Monday, Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins filed a lawsuit against the Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina and its president, Roger Odachowski, who he says is blaming him for the death of a firefighter in 2023. Jenkins’ lawsuit claims the defendants published a press release on June 19, 2023, […]

POCA, W.Va. — A Putnam County firefighter was injured Monday night after a 10-foot fall through a floor. The Poca Community Volunteer Fire Department said the firefighter was part of a crew responding to a box alarm, and fell about 10 feet “through a comprised floor.” The VFD said the firefighter avoided a truly severe outcome, […]