Firefighter Close Calls

A woman died and two firefighters were injured in a rowhome fire in Manayunk on Wednesday morning, 6abc reported. The fire was called in around 9 a.m. in the 4400 block of Fleming Street. Her name has not been released. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Four Rescued, One Woman Died Firefighters arrived […]

Parapet Wall Collapse at Auto Body Shop Arson Fire Claims Life of Captain and Injures Lieutenant and Emergency Medical Technician – Terre Haute, Indiana – September 30, 2002 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2002-44 On September 30, 2002, Terre Haute Fire Captain Ralph Stott of Engine 11 died when a parapet wall collapsed on him […]

Firefighter Killed in Collapse of Steel Truss Roof While Operating at Automobile Repair Garage Fire – Shakopee, Minnesota – September 30, 1959 On September 30, 1959, Shakopee Volunteer Firefighter Max Wermerskirchen was killed while attempting to ventilate the roof of a large automobile dealership with a steel truss supported roof. Firefighter Wermerskirchen had ascended to […]

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. is pushing back against a whistleblower complaint alleging a pattern of alcohol and drug use among town firefighters while on duty. Johnston firefighter Edward Spicer, who joined the department in 2024, filed a lawsuit against the town last week in R.I. Superior Court. The lawsuit details […]

Firefighter Killed in Wall Collapse While Fighting Abandoned Building Fire – Hurst, Illinois – September 29, 1996 On September 29, 1996, Herrin Illinois Firefighter Kevin Reveal was killed in the line of duty while operating at a mutual aid fire in an abandoned brick multiple dwelling that was adjacent to the City of Hurst, Illinois […]

Fire Officer Killed in Fall Down Elevator Shaft During Fire in Warehouse – Atlanta, Georgia – September 29, 1921 On September 29, 1921, Atlanta Assistant Fire Chief Samuel Blake Chapman died while directing operations at a smoky fire in an old abandoned piano factory that was being used to store bales of lint cotton. The […]

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Emergency officials say two firefighters were treated for minor burn injuries after a fire broke out at a building in Jefferson County early Sunday morning. According to the Sykesville Fire Department, crews were called to the scene, along East Main Street in Sykesville Borough, just after 3:15 a.m. Officials confirmed […]

The major fire in our fire department building tonight has shaken us, but also you, severely. We have already received several requests about what will happen if an emergency occurs in Offenbach now. Please be assured: the basic protection of our community is always ensured. Our local fire brigades Bornheim, Essingen and Hochstadt, as well […]

Firefighter Trapped and Killed in Small Storage Room During Office Building Arson Fire – Denver, Colorado – September 28, 1992 On September 28, 1992, Fire Engineer Mark Langvardt, a 16-year veteran of the Denver Colorado Fire Department was trapped and unable to escape from an upper- level storage room while searching during a fire in […]

Firefighter Killed and Assistant Fire Chief Severely Injured in Timber Truss Roof and Wall Collapse During Six Alarm Auto Dealership Fire – Cook Auto and Trailer Sales Fire – Little Rock, Arkansas – September 28, 1963 On September 28, 1963, Little Rock Fireman Carlos H. Graham was killed, and Assistant Fire Chief Charles E. Bailey […]

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University are conducting a study to better understand the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion among firefighters. There is quite a bit known about the potential long-term consequences of TBI in the general population and in other high-risk groups, particularly military populations, but first responders, and firefighters specifically, remain […]

Firefighter Killed After Falling Through Roof During Training Center Fire – Los Angeles, California – September 27, 1980 On September 27, 1980, Los Angeles City Firefighter Frank Hotchkin of Ladder 1 was killed in the line of duty during a fire at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in the Elysian Park section […]

Battalion Chief Killed in Natural Gas Explosion in Illegal Marijuana Grow House – The Bronx, New York – September 27, 2016 – FDNY Safety Command Investigative Report SB/16 On September 27, 2016, FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy was fatally injured by flying debris from an explosion on the top floor of a building suspected of […]

DELHI, N.Y. (WBNG) — Joseph Bellows of Delaware County has been sentenced to six months in county jail for his role in the death of East Branch firefighter Jason McGlone in July 2025. Fire Chief Rod Keesler said this was an underwhelming outcome. “We were looking for closure on this,” Keesler said. “We’re hoping that […]

A firefighter was among four injured when a fire ripped through an apartment building on Thursday in west suburban Woodridge. The fire broke out in an apartment building at the Windsor Lake Apartment Homes, at 7351 Woodward Ave., according to the Darien-Woodridge Fire District. Fire crews encountered heavy flames upon arrival. CBS Skywatch was over […]

14 Firefighters Injured in Jodhpur Factory FireA major fire at a handicraft factory in Basni, Jodhpur, turned into a dangerous situation when chemical drums exploded during firefighting operations, leaving 14 brave firefighters injured.Six seriously injured firefighters Mohammad Hanif, Prakash, Jogaram, Aashiq Khan, Prem Tamboli and Avinash were shifted from Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur, to SMS […]

Firefighter Killed and Several Others Injured in Fire Collapse of Hotel – Hotel Vendome Fire – San Jose, California – September 27, 1898 On September 27, 1898, San Jose Fireman Miles McDermott was killed, and several other firefighters injured when fire roared through the Hotel Vendome, a large elegant four-story hotel located near downtown San […]

Young Firefighter Killed in Fire Collapse of Detached Garage – Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania – September 26, 2007 On September 26, 2007, Sharon Hill Firefighter Michael D. Reagan Jr. was fatally injured during a fire and sudden collapse of a detached garage in the small Delaware County borough of Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. Firefighters had aggressively attacked […]

Firefighter Struck and Killed By Falling Object While Fighting Fire in Chocolate Factory – Manhattan, New York – September 25, 1852 On September 25, 1852, Volunteer Fireman Arthur J. Evans of Atlantic Hose Company No. 14 was killed while operating at a major fire in a five-story chocolate factory located in Lower Manhattan, New York […]

Firefighter Dies and Two Others Injured During Live Burn Training in Acquired Structure – Lairdsville, New York- September 25, 2001 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report F2001-38 On September 25, 2001, Lairdsville, New York Volunteer Firefighter Bradley Golden died, and Volunteer Firefighters Benjamin Morris and Adam Croman were injured during a multi-agency, live burn training […]