Firefighter Close Calls

Conflagration Sweeps Several Blocks of City Following Explosions at Manufacturing Plant Killing Ten Persons including One Firefighter – R. M. Hollingshead Corporation Fire – Camden, New Jersey – July 30, 1940 On July 30, 1940, a fire following a series of explosions in the R. M. Hollingshead Corporation plant in Camden, New Jersey quickly assumed […]

Nineteen Firefighters Killed During Oil Refinery Fire – Shamrock Oil Refinery Fire & Explosion – Sunray, Texas – July 29, 1956 On July 29, 1956, a large spherical tank of liquid flammable gas exploded during a fire at an oil refinery and storage facility near the Northern Texas community of Sunray. A 15,000-barrel pumpkin-shaped spheroid […]

FOX CROSSING, Wis. (WBAY) — Monday’s storms destroyed Fire Station 41 in Fox Crossing, leaving crumpled sheets of metal on the ground where the station’s roof once stood and burying several fire engines under rubble. The Fox Crossing Community Center also sustained what village officials described as “significant damage” that will take time to fully […]

All, This is a brief message from Gordon Graham-asking to please pass this on to your local municipal water department, water district, wastewater agency etc. “One of the things that has always impressed me about the fire service is the commitment to learning, preparedness, and protecting the communities we serve. Those same values are essential in the […]

A major incident was declared, and more than 100 firefighters were sent to tackle a massive fire which ripped through an industrial unit and caused a huge explosion, triggered by a store of fertilizer. Footage which captured the moment of the explosion showed a ball of flames erupting into the air and people fleeing, while […]

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during a two-alarm fire in Ellicott City Monday morning. According to the Howard County Fire Department, firefighters received multiple 911 calls for a fire in the 2600 block of Legends Way. They found heavy fire through the roof of two townhomes. The roof collapsed at the house […]

COLDENHAM – Firefighters in Coldenham responded to a fire call just before 3:30 this morning, but they didn’t have to travel far. Their firehouse was on fire. Vehicles were pulled out of the building at 511 Coldenham Drive as firefighters from several area departments helped quell the flames. The cause of the fire is under […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) -Three Birmingham firefighters are recovering after being injured in a fire at Airport Lounge. The fire happened just before midnight on July 26 on 50th Street North. 3 Birmingham firefighters are recovering after a fire at Airport Lounge.(WBRC) Birmingham Fire and Rescue says the firefighters were taken to UAB Hospital. One firefighter […]

Fire Captain Dies and Nine Firefighters Injured During Multi-Story Medical Building Arson Fire – Asheville, North Carolina – July 28, 2011 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2011-18 On July 28, 2011, Asheville Fire Captain Jeffrey Bowen of Rescue 3 died, and nine firefighters were injured during a fire in a six-story medical office building while […]

Fireboat Engineer Killed While Battling Oil Barge Fire – Buffalo, New York – July 27, 1928  On July 27, 1928, Buffalo Marine Engineer Thomas J. Lynch of the Fireboat William S. Grattan was killed during a general-alarm fire that started in a large oil barge and threatened to spread to the oil refinery near where […]

Nearly two dozen people were injured, including several New York City firefighters (FDNY) Saturday, when a massive fire broke out at an apartment building in Queens. FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said firefighters first got word of the fire at a two-story wooden building in Queens just before 10 a.m., and when they arrived, […]

Three Firefighters Killed and Two Others Fatally Injured in Wall Collapse During Sugar Refinery Fire – Philadelphia Steam Sugar Refinery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – July 26, 1870 On July 26, 1870, Philadelphia Volunteer Firemen Frank Devlin, James Mustland, and John S. Smith were killed instantly when a wall collapsed during a sugar refinery fire in […]

Three Firefighters Killed During Stable Fire – Knox’s Express Stables Fire – Second & B Streets, Washington, District of Columbia – July 25, 1894 On July 25, 1894, District of Columbia Fire Department Assistant Foreman Samuel E. Mastin and Firemen Michael R. Fenton and Dennis O’Donnoghue of Engine Company 1 were killed while operating at […]

  On July 25, 1987, Columbus Ohio Acting Lieutenant John Nance of Engine 2 was killed during a four-alarm fire after he fell into a blazing basement through a hole burned in the floor while searching for the fire in a commercial building in the downtown area of the city. Firefighters made numerous valiant attempts […]

Two Firefighters Found Unresponsive During Multi-Family Dwelling Fire – Bridgeport, Connecticut – July 24, 2010 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2010-18 On July 24, 2010, Bridgeport Connecticut Fire Lieutenant Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik were found unresponsive during fire operations in a multi-family dwelling fire. The firefighters and two additional crew members were tasked […]

Grayson County, Ky. (WBKO) – Two Grayson County firefighters were injured while attempting to extinguish a housefire on Tuesday, July 21, according to an initial report from K105. WBKO has confirmed that one of the men injured was Leitchfield Fire Chief, Tim Duvall according to Grayson County EMS Director, Carey Sims. At approximately 9:10 p.m., The […]

Fire and Explosion During Oil Refinery Kills 10 Industrial Firefighters and 7 Others – The Union Oil Refinery Fire – Romeoville, Illinois – July 23, 1984 On July 23, 1984, a fiery explosion rocked a 151,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Romeoville, Illinois near Chicago. Seventeen people died in the disaster. Ten of the dead belonged to […]

Firefighter Dies After Falling Through Floor During Mansion Fire – Clarksville, Maryland – July 23, 2018 – Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Line of Duty Death Investigative Report & NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Report F2018-13 On July 23, 2018, at about 0120 hours, a lightning strike ignited a fire within a large […]

Mutual Aid Firefighter Dies in Floor Collapse During Residential Basement Fire – Forrest, Illinois – July 22, 2008 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2008-26 On July 22, 2008, Firefighter Brian Munz of the Fairbury Fire Department was fatally injured during a floor collapse in a residential basement fire in the village of Forrest, Illinois. Firefighters, […]

All,  We regret to pass on that Chief Steve Woehrle of the Piseco (Hamilton County, NY, northeast of Syracuse) Volunteer Fire Department died in the Line of Duty yesterday. The Chief was responding on a run at the time of his death.  Chief Woehrle began his role as the Piseco Fire Chief in 2024. Prior […]