Fi re f i g h t e r

Fat a l i t i e s i n t h e

Un i t e d St at e s i n

2005

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Fire Administration

August 2006

In memory of all firefighters

who answered their last call in 2005

•

To their families and friends

•

To their service and sacrifice
U.S. Fire Administration

Mission Statement

As an entity of the Department of Homeland 

Security, the mission of the USFA is to reduce 

life and economic losses due to fire and 

related emergencies, through leadership, 

advocacy, coordination, and support. 

We serve the Nation independently, in 

coordination with other Federal agencies, 

and in partnership with fire protection and 

emergency service communities. With a 

commitment to excellence, we provide public 

education, training, technology and data 

initiatives.

Homeland

Security
Ac k n ow l e d gm e n t s

T

his study of firefighter fatalities would not have been possible without the cooperation and assistance 

of many members of the fire service across the United States. Members of individual fire departments, 

chief fire officers, U.S. Forest Service personnel, the Department of Justice, the National Fire Protection 

Association (NFPA), the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and many others contributed important 

information for this report.

C2 Technologies, Inc., of Vienna, Virginia, conducted this analysis for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) 

under contract EME-2003-CO-0282.

The ultimate objective of this effort is to reduce the number of firefighter deaths through an increased 

awareness and understanding of the causes of the deaths, and how they can be prevented. Firefighting, 

rescue, and other types of emergency operations are essential activities in an inherently dangerous 

profession, and tragedies do occur. This is the risk all firefighters accept every time they respond to 

an emergency incident. However, the risk can be greatly reduced through efforts to improve training, 

emergency scene operations, and firefighter health and safety. 

Ph o t o g r aph i c Ac k n ow l e d g m e n t s

The USFA would like to extend its thanks to Patti Odbert, Scientific and Commercial Systems Corporation, 

who provided many of the photographs in this report taken at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

weekend in Emmitsburg, MD, October 2005.

Tab l e o f Co n t e n t s

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................... v

Photographic Acknowledgments................................................................................................... v

Background....................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................3

Who is a Firefighter?.......................................................................................................................3

What Constitutes an Onduty Fatality? ..........................................................................................3

Sources of Initial Notification.........................................................................................................4

Procedure for Including a Fatality in the Study ...........................................................................5

2005 Findings .................................................................................................................................7

Career and Volunteer Deaths ........................................................................................................8

Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents ...........................................................................................8

Wildland Firefighting Deaths .........................................................................................................9

Type of Duty .................................................................................................................................. 11

	 	 Fireground Operations.............................................................................................................. 13

	 	 United States Firefighter Disorientation Study ...................................................................... 14

	 	 Responding/Returning ............................................................................................................. 14

	 	 Other On Duty ............................................................................................................................ 16

	 	 Training........................................................................................................................................17

	 	 Nonfire Emergencies ................................................................................................................ 18

	 	 After the Incident....................................................................................................................... 18

	 	 Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Deaths by Type of Duty ..................................................... 18

	 	 Type of Emergency Duty ........................................................................................................... 19

Cause of Fatal Injury.................................................................................................................... 19

	 	 Stress or Overexertion .............................................................................................................. 20

	 	 Vehicle Crashes ......................................................................................................................... 21

	 	 Caught or Trapped..................................................................................................................... 22

	 	 Falls............................................................................................................................................. 23

	 	 Struck by Object ........................................................................................................................ 23

	 	 Contact/Exposure ..................................................................................................................... 23

	 	 Assault........................................................................................................................................ 23

	 	 Other............................................................................................................................................24

Nature of Fatal Injury....................................................................................................................24

	 	 Heart Attack............................................................................................................................... 25

	 	 Internal Trauma ......................................................................................................................... 26

	 	 Asphyxiation................................................................................................................................27

	 	 Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) ...............................................................................................27

continued on next page
	 	 Burns .......................................................................................................................................... 28

	 	 Crushed ...................................................................................................................................... 28

	 	 Electrocution.............................................................................................................................. 28

	 	 Heat Exhaustion ........................................................................................................................ 28

	 	 Other........................................................................................................................................... 28

Firefighter Ages............................................................................................................................. 29

Fixed Property Use for Structural Firefighting Deaths ............................................................ 30

Type of Activity .............................................................................................................................. 30

	 	 Fire Attack ...................................................................................................................................31

	 	 Search and Rescue................................................................................................................... 32

	 	 Water Supply.............................................................................................................................. 32

	 	 Scene Safety .............................................................................................................................. 32

	 	 Incident Command.................................................................................................................... 32

	 	 Other Activity.............................................................................................................................. 32

Time of Injury................................................................................................................................ 33

Month of the Year......................................................................................................................... 33

State and Region.......................................................................................................................... 34

Analysis of Urban/Rural/Suburban Patterns in Firefighter Fatalities ....................................37

In Conclusion.................................................................................................................................37

Special Topic: PersonNEl Accountability.........................................................................41

Overview....................................................................................................................................41

Incident Management ................................................................................................................. 42

Communication ............................................................................................................................ 42

Personnel Accountability Systems ............................................................................................. 42

Personnel Accountability Technology ........................................................................................ 43

Quick Fix—Safe Convoy Movements of Fire Service Personnel.............................................. 45

Appendix A .....................................................................................................................................47

Summary of 2005 Incidents........................................................................................................47

	 Incidents Prior To 2005............................................................................................................... 98

Appendix B: Firefighter Fatality Inclusion Criteria—

 National Fire Service Organizations ...........................................................................101

Inclusion Criteria for NFPA’s Annual Firefighter Fatality Study .............................................101

	 	 Introduction..............................................................................................................................101

	 	 What is a Firefighter?..............................................................................................................102

	 	 What Does “On Duty” Mean? ................................................................................................102

	 	 Categories Not Included in the Study ...................................................................................102

	 	 2005 Experience.....................................................................................................................103

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation..................................................................................103


Bac kg r o u n d

For 29 years, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter 

fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. By 

collecting information on the causes of firefighter 

deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific 

problems and to direct efforts toward finding 

solutions to reduce the number of firefighter 

fatalities in the future. This information also 

is used to measure the effectiveness of current 

programs directed toward firefighter health and 

safety.

One of the USFA’s main program goals is a 25- 

percent reduction in firefighter fatalities in 5 years, 

and a 50-percent reduction within 10 years. The 

emphasis placed on these goals by the USFA is 

underscored by the fact that these goals represent 

one of the five major objectives that guide the 

actions of the USFA.

In addition to the analysis, the USFA provides a 

list of firefighter fatalities to the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation. If Memorial criteria are 

met, the fallen firefighter’s next of kin, as well 

as members of the individual fire department 

involved, are invited to the annual Fallen 

Firefighters Memorial Service. The service is held 

at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) 

in Emmitsburg, Maryland, during Fire Prevention 

Week. Additional information regarding the 

Memorial Service can be found by visiting www.

firehero.org or by calling the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation at (301) 447-1365. 

Other resources and information regarding 

firefighter fatalities, including current fatality 

notices, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

database, and links to the Public Safety Officers’ 

Benefits (PSOB) program can be found at http://

www.usfa.dhs.gov/fatalities/



In t r o d u c t io n

T

his report continues a series of annual studies 

by the USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities in 

the United States.

The specific objective of this study is to identify 

all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the 

United States and its protectorates in 2005, and 

to analyze the circumstances surrounding each 

occurrence. The study is intended to help identify 

approaches that could reduce the number of 

firefighter deaths in future years.

In addition to the 2005 overall findings, this study 

includes information on firefighter accountability 

programs.

Who is a Firefighter?

For the purposes of this study, the term 

“firefighter” covers all members of organized fire 

departments in all States, the District of Columbia, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 

Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. It 

includes career and volunteer firefighters; fulltime public safety officers acting as firefighters; 

State, territory, and Federal Government fire 

service personnel, including wildland firefighters; 

and privately employed firefighters, including 

employees of contract fire departments and trained 

members of industrial fire brigades, whether fullor part-time. It also includes contract personnel 

working as firefighters or assigned to work in 

direct support of fire service organizations.

Under this definition, the study includes not only 

local and municipal firefighters, but also seasonal 

and full-time employees of the U.S. Forest Service, 

the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife, 

the National Park Service, and State wildland 

agencies. The definition also includes prison 

inmates serving on firefighting crews; firefighters 

employed by other governmental agencies, such as 

the U.S. Department of Energy; military personnel 

performing assigned fire suppression activities; 

and civilian firefighters working at military 

installations.

What Constitutes an Onduty 

Fatality?

Onduty fatalities include any injury or illness 

sustained while on duty that proves fatal. The term 

“onduty” refers to being involved in operations 

at the scene of an emergency, whether it is a fire 

or nonfire incident; responding to or returning 

from an incident; performing other officially 

assigned duties such as training, maintenance, 

public education, inspection, investigations, 

court testimony, or fundraising; and being on 

call, under orders, or on standby duty, except at 

the individual’s home or place of business. An 

individual who experiences a heart attack or 

other fatal injury at home as he or she prepares to 

respond to an emergency is considered on duty 

when the response begins. A firefighter who 

becomes ill while performing fire department 

duties and suffers a heart attack shortly after 


U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

arriving home or at another location may be 

considered on duty, since the inception of the heart 

attack occurred while the firefighter was on duty.

On December 15, 2003, the President of the 

United States signed into law the Hometown 

Heroes Survivors Benefit Act of 2003. After being 

signed by the President, the Act became Public Law 

108-182. The law presumes that a heart attack or 

stroke occurred in the line of duty if the firefighter 

was engaged in nonroutine stressful or strenuous 

physical activity while on duty and the firefighter 

becomes ill while on duty or within 24 hours after 

engaging in such activity. The full text of the law 

is available at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/

cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_

laws&docid=f:publ182.108.pdf

The inclusion criteria for this study will be affected 

by this change in the law. Previous to December 

15, 2003, firefighters who became ill as a result 

of a heart attack or stroke after going off duty 

needed to register some complaint of not feeling 

well while still on duty in order to be included in 

this study. For firefighter fatalities after December 

15, 2003, firefighters will be included in this 

study if they become ill as the result of a heart 

attack or stroke within 24 hours of a training 

activity or emergency response. Firefighters who 

become ill after going off duty in a situation 

in which their activities while on duty were 

limited to nonstressful tasks that did not involve 

physical exertion—such as tasks that were clerical, 

administrative, or nonmanual in nature—will not 

be included in this study.

A fatality may be caused directly by an accidental 

or intentional injury in either emergency or 

nonemergency circumstances, or it may be 

attributed to an occupationally related fatal illness. 

A common example of a fatal illness incurred 

on duty is a heart attack. Fatalities attributed 

to occupational illnesses also would include a 

communicable disease contracted while on duty 

that proved fatal, when the disease could be 

attributed to a documented occupational exposure. 

Injuries and illnesses are included even when death 

is considerably delayed after the original incident. 

When the incident and the death occur in different 

years, the analysis counts the fatality as having 

occurred in the year in which the incident took 

place.

Five firefighters died in 2005 as a result of 

incidents that had occurred in previous years. 

Information about these five deaths is included 

in the Appendix of this report, but they are not 

addressed in the body of the report unless the 

death has an impact on retrospective statistical 

comparisons.

There is no established mechanism for identifying 

fatalities that result from illnesses such as cancer 

that develop over long periods of time, which may 

be related to occupational exposure to hazardous 

materials or products of combustion. It has proved 

to be very difficult over the years to provide a 

complete evaluation of an occupational illness 

as a causal factor in firefighter deaths due to the 

following limitations: the exposure of firefighters 

to toxic hazards is not sufficiently tracked; the 

long-term effects of such toxic hazard exposures 

often are delayed; and firefighters also may receive 

such exposures while off duty. 

Sources of Initial Notification

As an integral part of its ongoing program 

to collect and analyze fire data, USFA solicits 

information on firefighter fatalities directly from 

the fire service and from a wide range of other 

sources. These sources include the Public Safety 

Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program administered by 

the Department of Justice, the National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA), the U.S. military, the National Interagency 

Fire Center, and other Federal agencies. 
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005



The USFA receives notification of some deaths 

directly from fire departments, as well as from 

such fire service organizations as the International 

Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International 

Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the NFPA, the 

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), State fire 

marshals, State training organizations, other State 

and local organizations, fire service Internet sites, 

news services, and fire service publications. The 

USFA also keeps track of fatal fire incidents as 

part of its Major Fires Investigation Program and 

performs an ongoing analysis of data from the 

National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

Procedure for Including a

Fatality in the Study

In most cases, after notification of a fatal incident, 

initial telephone contact is made with local 

authorities by the USFA to verify the incident, 

its location, jurisdiction, and the fire department 

or agency involved. Further information about 

the deceased firefighter and the incident may be 

obtained from the chief of the fire department or 

his or her designee over the phone, or by other 

data collection forms. 

Information that is requested routinely includes 

NFIRS-1 (incident) and NFIRS-3 (fire service 

casualty) reports, the fire department’s own 

incident reports and internal investigation reports, 

copies of death certificates or autopsy reports and 

results, special investigative reports, police reports, 

photographs and diagrams, and newspaper or 

media accounts of the incident. Information on 

the incident also may be gathered from NFPA or 

NIOSH reports.

After this information has been obtained, a 

determination is made as to whether the death 

qualifies as an onduty firefighter fatality according 

to the criteria previously described. With the 

exception of firefighter deaths after December 

15, 2003, the criteria used for this study were 

the same as those used in previous annual studies. 

Additional information may be requested, either 

by follow up with the fire department directly, 

from State vital records offices, or from other 

agencies. The determination as to whether a 

fatality qualifies as an onduty death for inclusion 

in this statistical analysis is made by the USFA. 

The final determination as to whether a fatality 

qualifies as a line-of-duty death for inclusion in the 

Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is made by the 

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.



2005 Fin din g s

One hundred and fifteen (115) firefighters died while on duty in 2005. (Using the 

pre-Hometown Heroes criteria, 99 firefighters 

died while on duty in the United States.) This 

level of firefighter fatalities, while unacceptably 

high, represents a hopeful decline in the annual 

number of onduty firefighter fatalities, if the preHometown Heroes fatality criteria are used. 

In December of 2003, the Hometown Heroes 

Survivors Benefit Act of 2003 was signed into 

law. For Federal survivors’ benefit purposes, the 

law presumes that a heart attack or stroke are in 

the line of duty if the firefighter was engaged in 

nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity 

while on duty and the firefighter becomes ill while 

on duty or within 24 hours of engaging in such 

activity. Prior to the Act, Federal survivors’ benefits 

for firefighters were not generally paid for heart 

attacks or strokes, regardless of the circumstances.

The first firefighter to die in 2005 as a result 

of onduty activity was Captain Ornell Fuller 

of the Midway Volunteer Fire Department in 

Dexter, New Mexico. Captain Fuller died the 

day after a response to a structural fire.

The inclusion criteria for this report were also 

modified when the Act became law. Prior to 

December of 2003, a firefighter needed to express 

or show signs of illness prior to going off duty 

in order to be included in this report. After 

December of 2003, firefighters who became ill 

within 24 hours of onduty stressful or strenuous 

activity also were included.

While a change in report criteria does not diminish 

the sacrifices made by the firefighters who die, 

or the sacrifices made by their families and their 

peers, statistical analysis of death trends needs to 

acknowledge the change. If the Hometown Heroes 

criteria firefighter fatalities of 2005 are set aside 

for a moment, the number of firefighters who died 

while on duty in 2005 was 99. Using previous 

report inclusion criteria, this is the lowest level 

of onduty deaths since 1998. This is also the first 

time since 1998, using those previous criteria, 

that the number of onduty firefighter fatalities 

would be below 100. The lowest years on record 

are 1992, with 77 fatalities, and 1993, with 81 

fatalities (Figure 1).

Five firefighters died in 2005 as a result 

of crime. Three firefighters died in arsoncaused fires, one firefighter was fatally shot, 

and one firefighter was killed in a crash with 

a vehicle that was fleeing law enforcement.

The 115 deaths in 2005 resulted from a total of 

109 incidents. There were four firefighter fatality 

incidents in which two or more firefighters were 

killed in 2005. 

In 2001, 344 firefighters were killed as a result of 

the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in 

New York City on September 11. When conducting 
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion



Figure 1. Onduty Firefighter Fatalities (1977-2005)

multiyear comparisons of firefighter fatalities in 

this report, it may be necessary to set these deaths 

apart for illustrative purposes. This action is by 

no means a minimization of the supreme sacrifice 

made by these firefighters.

Career and Volunteer Deaths

Firefighter fatalities in 2005 include 81 volunteer 

firefighters and 34 career firefighters (Figure 2)­. 

Among the volunteer firefighter fatalities, 71 were 

from local or municipal volunteer fire departments, 

and 10 were members of wildland fire agencies. 

All of the career firefighters who died were 

members of local or municipal fire departments. 

Three of the firefighters who died in 2005 were 

female and 112 were male.

Multiple Firefighter 

Fatality Incidents

The 115 deaths resulted from 109 incidents. There 

were four multiple firefighter fatality incidents in 

2005, resulting in the deaths of 10 firefighters:

Table 1. Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents

Year Number of 

Incidents

Total Number of 

Deaths

2005 4 10

2004 3 6

2003 7 20

2002 9 25

2001 8 362

2001 w/o

WTC 7 18

2000 5 10

1999 6 22

1998 10 22

1997 8 17

1996 3 8

1995 7 18

1994 6 26


FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Figure 2. Career and Volunteer Firefighter Onduty Fatalities (2005)

• In January, two New York City firefighters died 

when they were trapped by rapid fire progress 

in a structure fire. Six firefighters were forced 

to jump from a fifth-story window because the 

apartment where they were trapped did not 

have a fire escape.

• In March, three firefighters who were 

employees of a private aircraft firefighting 

company were killed in the crash of their 

aircraft during a training exercise in California.

• In April, two Wyoming firefighters were killed 

when fire progressed rapidly in a townhouse 

fire.

• In April, three wildland firefighters were killed 

in the crash of a helicopter during a prescribed 

burn in Texas. The crew had been assigned to 

drop flammable spheres to initiate the burn 

when they experienced an unknown problem 

and crashed.

The New York City Fire Department suffered a third 

firefighter fatality on the same day as the January 

incident outlined above. The fatality occurred at a 

structure fire unrelated to the multiple-firefighterfatality incident. The Memphis Fire Department 

lost two members in 2005 in separate incidents. 

The Memphis deaths were caused by a CVA 

(cerebrovascular accident, or stroke) and a heart 

attack.

Wildland Firefighting Deaths

Nineteen firefighters died in 2005 while engaged 

in activities related to brush, grass, or wildland 

firefighting. This total includes part-time and 

seasonal wildland firefighters, full-time wildland 

firefighters, and municipal or volunteer firefighters 

whose deaths are related to a wildland fire 

(Figure 3). 

After a year with no multiple-firefighter-fatality 

wildland incidents in 2004, six firefighters 

were killed in two aircraft crashes in 2005. 

One crash involved an airtanker and the other 

involved a helicopter. Both incidents involved 

activities in advance of a fire incident. The crash 

of the airtanker occurred during training and 

the helicopter crash occurred in support of a 

prescribed burn.

The number of fatal wildland incidents decreased 

from the levels seen in 2003 and 2004. There were 

15 fatal wildland incidents in 2005, compared to 

21 incidents in the previous 2 years:

• Six firefighters died of heart attacks related to 

wildland fire activities.

− A Florida firefighter died after returning 

home from a work shift that included the 

overhaul of two wildland fires.
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

e incidents Figure 3. Firefighter Fatalities Related to Wildland Firefighting (1994-2005) Note: Includes only firefighter fatalities related to fir

− A South Dakota firefighter was found 

dead in his hotel room after a work shift 

engaged as a Single Engine Air Tanker 

(SEAT) manager at a wildland fire in 

Colorado.

− A South Dakota firefighter collapsed of a 

heart attack after helping other firefighters 

fight a wildland fire on his land caused by a 

fire in a hay bailer.

− A New Mexico firefighter died of a heart 

attack during the final evaluations in a treefelling class.

− An Oklahoma firefighter died after a 

solo fire fight at a wildland fire. Arriving 

firefighters witnessed his collapse.

− A Mississippi firefighter collapsed and died 

after completing extinguishment of a small 

wildland fire.

• Six firefighters died in wildland aircraft crashes.

− Three firefighters were killed in the crash of 

an airtanker during training in California. 

The crew had completed a number of 

practice drops when the aircraft crashed for 

reasons unknown.

− Three firefighters were killed in Texas after 

the crash of a helicopter. The aircraft was 

being operated in support of a prescribed 

burn.

• Three firefighters were killed in vehicle crashes 

related to wildland activities:

− A Kansas firefighter was killed when the 

brush truck he was driving collided headon with a fire department tanker (tender) 

responding to the same incident. The 

vision of both drivers was obscured by 

smoke.

− A Texas firefighter was killed in the crash 

of a tractor-trailer water tanker while 

responding to a mutual-aid wildland fire.

− A Nevada firefighter was killed when an allterrain vehicle (ATV) that he was driving 

overturned as it was being driven downhill 

as the firefighter was supervising a wildland 

conservation project.
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

• A Kansas firefighter was killed after he called 

to report a wildland fire resulting from a 

lightning strike at his home. The firefighter 

went outside to investigate, contacted a live 

power line, and was fatally electrocuted.

• A Virginia firefighter was fatally burned as 

he fought a wildland fire. His body was 

discovered the next day, after he failed to return 

from his efforts.

• A Tennessee wildland firefighter was killed in 

a domestic violence incident as he waited for 

a piece of apparatus to be repaired. A gunman 

killed three people, including the firefighter, 

the gunman’s wife, and another civilian.

Table 2. Firefighter Deaths Associated with 

Wildland Firefighting

Year

Total 

Number 

of 

Deaths

Number of 

Fatal 

Incidents

Number of 

Firefighters 

Killed in 

Multiple-Death 

Incidents

2005 19 15 6

2004 21 21 0

2003 29 21 10

2002 23 14 13

2001 15 9 9

2000 17 14 6

1999 26 25 2

1998 14 13 2

1997 12 10 4

1996 9 9 0

1995 18 14 7

1994 36 18 22

Table 3. Wildland Firefighting Aircraft Deaths

Year Total Number of 

Deaths

Number of 

Fatal Incidents

2005 6 2

2004 3 3

2003 7 4

2002 6 3

2001 6 3

2000 6 5

1999 0 0

1998 3 2

1997 5 3

1996 0 0

1995 3 1

1994 8 3

Type of Duty

Activities related to emergency incidents resulted 

in the deaths of 60 firefighters in 2005 (Figure 

5). This includes all firefighters who died 

while responding to an emergency, while at 

an emergency scene, while returning from an 

emergency incident, and in the course of other 

emergency-related activities. Nonemergency 

activities accounted for 55 fatalities. (Nonemergency duties include training, administrative 

activities, performing other functions that are 

not related to an emergency incident, and postincident fatalities in which the firefighter had not 

experienced the illness during the emergency.) 

A multiyear historical perspective concerning 

the percentage of firefighter deaths that occurred 

during emergency duty is presented in Table 4. 
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Figure 4. Firefighter Fatalities per 100,000 Fires

Table 4. Emergency Duty Firefighter Deaths

Year Percentage of All Deaths

2005 52.2

2004 68.3

2003 70

2002 73

2001 65

2001 w/WTC 92

2000 71

1999 87

1998 77

1997 81

1996 72

1995 86

1994 84

The number of deaths by type of duty being 

performed in 2005 is shown in Table 5 and 

presented graphically in Figure 6. As has been the 

case for most years, fireground duties are the most 

common type of duty for firefighters killed while 

on duty.

If the Hometown Heroes deaths of 2005 are 

removed from the formula, the percentage 

of firefighter deaths associated with 

emergency duty rises to 60.6 percent.

Figure 5. Firefighter Deaths by Type of Duty (2005)
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Table 5. Firefighter Deaths by Type of Duty (2005)

Type of Duty Number of Deaths

Fireground Operations 27

Responding/Returning 23

Other On Duty 24

Training 14

Nonfire Emergencies 6

After an Incident 21

Total 115

Fireground Operations

Twenty-seven firefighters died while engaged in 

activities at the scene of a fire in 2005: 

• Two New York City Fire Department firefighters 

were killed when they were trapped by fire 

progress in an occupied multiple dwelling. 

Firefighters were forced to make a five-story 

jump when their escape routes were cut off.

Figure 6. Fatalities by Type of Duty (2005)

• Two Wyoming firefighters were killed when 

they were overcome by fire progress in 

a residential fire. The fire emerged from 

concealed spaces and extended rapidly.

• Thirteen firefighters suffered heart attacks at 

fire scenes in 2005:

− Three of the heart attacks occurred at 

wildland fires.

− Eight firefighters suffered heart attacks at 

fires in residential occupancies. Two of 

these fires had suspicious or arson-related 

causes.

− A Delaware firefighter suffered a heart 

attack at an alarm activation incident.

− An Arkansas firefighter suffered a heart 

attack at the scene of a car fire.

• Two firefighters were electrocuted at fire scenes 

in 2005:

− A California firefighter was electrocuted 

when he came into contact with an 

energized wire at a residential structure fire.

− A Kansas firefighter was killed after he 

called to report a wildland fire resulting 

from a lightning strike at his home. The 

firefighter went outside to investigate, 

contacted a live power line, and was fatally 

electrocuted.

• Two firefighters were killed when rapid 

changes in fire conditions trapped them. Both 

fires occurred in residential occupancies, one in 

New York and the other in Michigan.

• A Virginia firefighter was burned fatally as 

he fought a wildland fire. His body was 

discovered the next day, after he failed to return 

from his efforts.

• A Kentucky firefighter was killed when the 

fire apparatus he had driven rolled forward 

and crushed him at the scene of a residential 

structure fire.

• A North Carolina firefighter was killed when a 

fire-damaged tree limb crushed him as firefighters 

attempted to extinguish a fire in the tree.
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

• A Missouri firefighter became entangled in a 

man lift and was killed during a fire in a mill.

• A Texas firefighter was killed while advancing 

a hoseline in an abandoned residential 

structure. The roof of an addition collapsed 

under fire conditions and trapped the 

firefighter.

• A New York firefighter collapsed and died of a 

CVA that struck as he arrived on the scene of a 

working residential structure fire.

United States Firefighter Disorientation Study:

For the third year we include information regarding a report prepared by Captain William 

Mora of the San Antonio Fire Department who analyzed 17 incidents in which firefighters 

became disoriented in structures, resulting in a total of 23 firefighter fatalities. The 

study revealed a disorientation sequence common to all of these incidents that included 

light smoke showing upon arrival, an aggressive interior attack, deteriorating interior 

conditions, and firefighters becoming separated from handlines. The study recommends 

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and training that includes a cautious initial 

assessment and a managed initial attack, if warranted. The full study is available at: 

http://www.sanantonio.gov/safd/pdf/FirefighterDisorientationStudy.pdf or through a 

link at the USFA firefighter fatality Web site, http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fatalities/

Responding/Returning

Twenty-three firefighters died while responding 

to or returning from emergency incidents in 

2005. Nineteen firefighters died while responding 

to emergency incidents, and four died while 

returning from emergencies. A comparison with 

previsous years is given in Table 6.

Four firefighters died while returning from 

incidents:

• A New York firefighter died when he had a 

heart attack and crashed the rescue truck that 

he was operating.

• A Kentucky firefighter experienced a heart attack 

and pulled to the side of the road in his personal 

vehicle while returning from an incident.

• A Tennessee firefighter experienced a heart 

attack while driving his engine company 

back to the fire station from an incident. 

The company officer was able to bring the 

apparatus to a safe stop and the crew provided 

treatment.

• A Georgia firefighter experienced a heart attack 

as he drove his engine company back from an 

emergency response.

Nineteen firefighters were killed while responding 

to incidents:

• Four firefighters were killed in crashes 

involving fire engines:

− A Georgia firefighter going from one 

emergency to respond to another was killed 

when the right wheels of the engine went 

off the road and the apparatus crashed.
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

− A California firefighter was killed when 

his engine left the roadway and he was 

ejected from the rear passenger area of the 

apparatus.

− An Alabama firefighter was killed when 

the engine he was driving was involved 

in a crash with a tractor-trailer. The crash 

necessitated extensive extrication efforts to 

free the firefighter, who died of his injuries.

− A Louisiana firefighter was killed when his 

engine company was involved in a crash 

with a tractor-trailer. The firefighter was 

ejected from the officer’s seat.

• Four firefighters were killed in crashes that 

involved fire department tankers (tenders) 

during response:

− A Kansas firefighter was killed when the 

brush truck he was driving collided headon with a fire department tanker (tender) 

responding to the same incident. The 

vision of both drivers was obscured by 

smoke.

− A Texas firefighter was killed in the crash 

of a tractor-trailer water tanker while 

responding to a mutual-aid wildland fire.

− A Mississippi firefighter was ejected from a 

tanker and killed when the tanker crashed 

during response.

− A Texas firefighter was killed when the 

tanker he was driving blew a tire and 

crashed.

• Four firefighters became ill before they were 

able to leave their homes after being dispatched 

to emergencies. One of the deaths occurred in 

Maryland, one in Kentucky, and the other two 

in Pennsylvania. One was due to a pulmonary 

embolism and three were due to heart attacks.

• Three firefighters were killed in crashes 

involving their personal vehicles while 

responding to incidents:

− A Pennsylvania firefighter was killed when 

his vehicle left the roadway, returned to 

the roadway, and crashed into a command 

vehicle responding to the same incident 

from the opposite direction.

− A Kentucky firefighter was killed when his 

personal vehicle left the right side of the 

roadway on a curve and crashed.

− A California firefighter was killed when his 

personal vehicle left the roadway during 

response and crashed into a utility pole. 

The firefighter was ejected.

• Three firefighters experienced heart attacks 

while responding. In one case, the firefighter 

was driving his personal vehicle. In the other 

two cases, the firefighter was driving fire 

apparatus.

• A Texas firefighter was killed when he fell from 

a ladder truck as it turned during a response. 

The firefighter struck his head and died 2 

days later.

Table 6. Firefighter Deaths While Responding To 

or Returning From an Incident

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 23

2004 23

2003 36

2002 13

2001 23

2000 19

1999 26

1998 14

1997 21

1996 22

1995 29

1994 22
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Other On Duty

A total of 24 firefighters died while engaged in 

other onduty activity in 2005. This includes deaths 

that were not associated with the response to any 

particular emergency. 

• Three wildland firefighters were killed in the 

crash of a helicopter during a prescribed burn 

in Texas. The crew had been assigned to drop 

flammable spheres to initiate the burn when 

they experienced an unknown problem and 

crashed.

• Seven firefighters were killed in vehicle crashes 

while they were on duty but not assigned to an 

incident or training activity:

− A Nevada firefighter was killed as he 

was supervising a wildland conservation 

project when an ATV that he was driving 

overturned as it was being driven downhill.

− A Pennsylvania firefighter was killed as 

he returned from training when a truck 

crossed the center line of the roadway and 

crashed into his personal vehicle.

− A Utah firefighter was killed when the 

tanker he was driving for maintenance 

experienced a tire failure and crashed.

− A Missouri firefighter was killed during a 

fire department standby at a local raceway. 

A vehicle went out of control and the 

firefighter was crushed as he attempted to 

stop it.

− An Alabama firefighter was killed when the 

rescue boat in which she was a passenger 

crashed into another boat as it returned 

from a standby at a boat parade.

− A Missouri firefighter was killed when his 

vehicle was struck by another vehicle that 

was fleeing from law enforcement.

− A New Hampshire firefighter was killed as 

he drove to work in response to an offduty 

shift recall when he lost control of his 

vehicle and crashed in poor weather.

• Seven firefighters suffered heart attacks while 

on duty but not working an incident. These 

heart attacks struck firefighters as they slept, as 

they set up for fire department functions, and 

as they participated in meetings and other fire 

department functions.

• Three firefighters suffered CVA’s while on duty 

but not working an incident:

− A Maryland firefighter suffered a CVA as he 

helped to unload supplies in preparation 

for a fire department event.

− An Oregon firefighter suffered a CVA as he 

attended a fire department management 

conference.

− A New Jersey firefighter suffered a CVA 

as he drove a pumper in the funeral 

procession of a fellow firefighter and friend 

who had died off duty.

• An Arizona firefighter died of an overdose of 

medications while on duty in the fire station.

• A Tennessee firefighter was shot and killed as he 

waited for an apparatus to be repaired.
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

• A Wisconsin firefighter suffered a pulmonary 

embolism and died during a town meeting 

as he represented the fire department at the 

meeting.

• A Delaware firefighter slipped and fell through 

a pole hole in the fire station while on duty. 

The firefighter later died of complications of 

the fall.

Training

Fourteen firefighters died while engaged in training 

in 2005. In most years, one or more firefighter 

deaths occur as firefighters complete a work capacity 

or “pack” test to qualify for wildland firefighting 

duties. No such deaths occurred in 2005.

• Three firefighters who were employees of 

a private aircraft firefighting company were 

killed in the crash of their aircraft during a 

training exercise in California.

• Six firefighters died of heart attacks related to 

training:

− A New Jersey firefighter and a New Mexico 

firefighter died of heart attacks that struck 

during or immediately after physical fitness 

training.

− A Florida firefighter was struck by a heart 

attack as he and his crew left a training 

facility after self-contained breathing 

apparatus (SCBA) training.

− A Kentucky firefighter was struck by a 

heart attack after completing an SCBA 

training routine and before running other 

firefighters through the activity.

− A Texas firefighter complained of not 

feeling well after training and later died.

− A New Mexico firefighter suffered a heart 

attack and later died. The attack struck 

during final exercises in a tree-felling class.

• A Pennsylvania firefighter suffered severe burns 

and died in a simulated basement fire at a 

training facility.

• A Pennsylvania firefighter failed to surface 

during night dive rescue training and drowned.

• A Connecticut firefighter fell during training as 

he got on a ladder to descend to the ground, 

struck his head, and later died.

• A Florida firefighter suffered heat injuries 

during a physical fitness run while in recruit 

school; he later died of his injuries.

• A New York firefighter suffered a CVA as he 

participated in a Firefighter I class and later 

died.

Since 1990, some 19 firefighters have 

drowned on duty while engaged in water 

rescue operations. Seven of these 

drownings occurred during training. NIOSH 

has published an alert on dive rescue 

training. It is available at www.cdc.gov/

niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2004-152/

Table 7 offers a multiyear perspective on training 

deaths.

Table 7. Firefighter Deaths During Training

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 14

2004 13

2003 12

2002 11

2001 14

2000 13

1999 3

1998 12

1997 5

1996 6

1995 3

1994 7
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Nonfire Emergencies

Six firefighters died at nonfire emergencies: 

Three firefighters died of heart attacks that struck 

them at nonfire emergencies:

• An Alabama firefighter collapsed as a result of a 

heart attack as he exited his personal vehicle at 

the scene of a motor vehicle crash.

• A South Carolina firefighter responded to an 

incident in which a body was discovered that 

had been dead for some time. The firefighter 

left the home where the body was found and 

collapsed of a heart attack.

• A New Jersey firefighter responded in his 

personal vehicle to a report of a gas leak. He 

evacuated residents from the home, exited the 

structure, and collapsed of a heart attack.

• An Iowa firefighter working on a farm was 

notified of a person who had collapsed in a 

manure pit. The firefighter activated the 9-1-1 

system and entered the pit to attempt a rescue. 

The firefighter was overcome by manure gas; 

both men died.

• A Texas-based military firefighter responded 

to a rescue incident while deployed in Iraq. 

Firefighters were searching for soldiers 

trapped in an overturned vehicle in a canal; the 

firefighter drowned.

• A New Jersey fire police officer was struck and 

killed by a vehicle at the scene of a haz mat 

incident. The driver of the car was convicted 

of driving under the influence of alcohol and 

other offenses.

After the Incident

Twenty-one firefighters died after the conclusion of 

their onduty activities: 

• Five of these deaths involved firefighters who 

complained of not feeling well, or exhibited 

signs of illness, prior to going off duty.

• Sixteen of these deaths did not involve 

any report of illness while on duty. These 

firefighter fatalities are being included in 

accordance with the Hometown Heroes 

inclusion criteria. This fact does not diminish 

the tragedy or importance of these deaths, but 

is pointed out for statistical analysis purposes 

only.

Of the 21 deaths of firefighters who died after the 

conclusion of duty, the vast majority were due to 

heart attacks.

• Eighteen of these firefighters died as a result of 

a heart attack.

• One firefighter died from a heart valve problem 

that may have been hereditary.

• One firefighter died of an overdose of 

prescribed pain medications.

• One firefighter died of an aortic aneurysm.

Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Deaths 

by Type of Duty

Figure 7 depicts career, volunteer, and wildland 

firefighter deaths by type of duty. Wildland 

career, wildland seasonal, and wildland contractor 

deaths were grouped together. As in past years, 

a disproportionate number of fatalities were 

experienced by volunteer firefighters responding 

to and returning from alarms, as compared to 

career firefighters. Fourteen volunteer firefighter 

deaths occurred while responding, and three 

occurred while returning from an emergency. Of 

the responding deaths, eight were due to vehicle 

crashes.
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Figure 7. Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Deaths by 

Type of Duty (2005)

Type of Emergency Duty

In 2005, some 60 firefighters died while engaged 

directly in the delivery of emergency services. This 

number includes deaths that were the result of 

injuries sustained on the incident scene or en route 

to the incident scene, and deaths of firefighters 

who became ill on an incident scene and later died. 

It does not include firefighters who became ill or 

died while returning from an incident (such as a 

vehicle collision that occurred while the firefighter 

was returning from an incident). Figure 8 shows 

the number of firefighters killed in firefighting, 

emergency medical services (EMS), technical 

rescue-related incidents, and other emergency 

incidents in 2005. The type of emergency incident 

involved in one of the firefighter fatalities in 2005 

is unknown.

Thirty-eight firefighters were killed in relation to 

fires; 15 firefighters were killed in relation to EMS 

calls; and 6 firefighters were killed at emergencies 

that involved hazardous materials and technical 

rescue, such as storm-related calls.

Figure 8. Type of Emergency Duty (2005)

Note: Some 60 of 115 deaths occurred during emergency responses, 

one incident type unknown.

Cause of Fatal Injury

The term “cause of injury” refers to the action, lack 

of action, or circumstances that resulted directly 

in the fatal injury. The term “nature of injury” 

refers to the medical cause of the fatal injury or 

illness, often referred to as the physiological cause 

of death. A fatal injury is usually the result of a 

chain of events, the first of which is recorded as 

the cause.

Table 8 and Figure 9 show the distribution of 

deaths by cause of fatal injury or illness.

Table 8. Cause of Fatal Injury (2005)

Cause Number

Stress/Overexertion 62

Vehicle Collision 25

Caught/Trapped 9

Fall 5

Struck by 4

Contact/Exposure 3

Assault 1

Other 6

Total 115
20

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Figure 9. Fatalities by Cause of Fatal Injury (2005)

Stress or Overexertion

Stress or overexertion is a general category that 

includes all firefighter deaths that are cardiac or 

cerebrovascular in nature, such as heart attacks 

and strokes (CVA’s), and other illnesses such as 

extreme climatic heat exposure. Classification of 

a firefighter fatality in this “cause of fatal injury” 

category does not indicate that a firefighter was in 

poor physical condition. 

Firefighting is extremely strenuous physical 

work, and is probably one of the most physically 

demanding activities that the human body 

performs. 

Firefighters who died on duty in 2005 of heart 

attacks and CVA’s had a median of 21 years 

of service, and those who died of traumatic 

injuries had a median of 12 years of service.

• Sixty-two firefighters died in 2005 as a result 

of stress/overexertion:

− Fifty-five of the stress deaths were heart 

attacks.

− Six firefighter deaths were due to CVA’s.

− One firefighter fatality was due to heat 

exhaustion.

• If the Hometown Heroes deaths in 2005 are 

set aside for analysis purposes, 46.5 percent 

of firefighter fatalities in 2005 were caused by 

stress or overexertion (see Table 9).
2

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Table 9. Deaths Caused by Stress or Overexertion

Year Number Percent of Fatalities

2005 62 53.9

2004 66 56.4

2003 51 45.9

2002 38 38

2001 43 40.9*

2000 46 44.6

1999 56 49.5

1998 43 46.2

1997 41 41

1996 46 46.4

1995 49 48

1994 36 34.2

* Does not include the firefighter deaths of September 11, 2001, in New 

York City.

Vehicle Crashes

As in most years, the second leading cause of 

fatal injury for firefighters who died in 2005 was 

vehicle crashes (see Figure 10): 

• Twenty-five firefighters were killed in 2005 as a 

result of vehicle crashes.

• Seatbelts were used only in 8 of the 13 cases 

where the status of the firefighter’s seatbelt is 

known. This number does not include seatbelt 

use on watercraft, aircraft, or ATV’s.

• Five firefighters were killed in crashes while 

wearing their seatbelts.

Additional information about firefighter deaths in 

2005 as the result of vehicle crashes includes the 

following:

• Three firefighters who were employees of 

a private aircraft firefighting company were 

killed in the crash of their aircraft during a 

training exercise in California.

Figure 10. Firefighter Fatalities in Vehicle Collisions
22

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

• Three wildland firefighters were killed in the 

crash of a helicopter during a prescribed burn 

in Texas. The crew had been assigned to drop 

flammable spheres to initiate the burn when 

they experienced an unknown problem and 

crashed.

• Five firefighters were killed in crashes involving 

their vehicles:

− Three crashes occurred while firefighters 

were responding to emergencies.

− One crash occurred while the firefighter 

was returning from a class: A truck crossed 

the center line of the road and struck the 

firefighter’s car.

− One crash occurred as the firefighter drove 

from home to the fire station in response to 

an offshift callback.

The five personal vehicle crash deaths in 

2005 bring to 64 the number of firefighter 

deaths in personal vehicle crashes since 

1990. Many of these deaths involved 

excessive speed and lack of seatbelt use.

• Four fatal crashes involved the death of the 

driver of a fire department tanker (tender):

− Two of the tanker crashes involved 

mechanical failure. One was attributed to 

a blowout and the other was attributed to a 

wheel falling off the vehicle.

− One crash involved a tractor-trailer tanker.

• Four fatal crashes involved engine or pumper 

apparatus:

− A California firefighter was killed when his 

engine company was involved in a crash 

in bad weather while responding to an 

incident.

− A Georgia firefighter was killed in the 

crash of the engine that he was driving in 

response to a mutual-aid incident.

− Two firefighters were killed in separate 

incidents when their apparatus were 

involved in crashes with tractor-trailer 

trucks.

• A New York firefighter was killed when the 

rescue truck he was driving back to station 

after an incident left the roadway and crashed.

• A Missouri firefighter was killed when the car 

he was driving was struck at high speed by the 

vehicle of an individual who was fleeing law 

enforcement.

• A Kansas firefighter was killed when the brush 

truck he was driving collided with a tanker 

responding to the same incident.

• A firefighter who was a passenger in a rescue 

boat was killed when the fire department boat 

collided with another boat on a dark waterway.

• A Nevada wildland firefighter was killed in an 

ATV rollover.

• A Missouri firefighter was run over by a push 

truck at a race track after the vehicle went out 

of control.

Caught or Trapped

In 2005, nine firefighters were killed when they 

were caught or trapped. This classification covers 

firefighters who are trapped in wildland and 

structural fires and unable to escape due to rapid 

fire progression and its byproducts of smoke, 

heat, and flame. This classification also includes 

firefighters who are killed in drownings.
2

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

• Two Wyoming firefighters were killed by rapid 

fire progress during an accidental fire in a 

townhouse. The firefighters were in the second 

story of the home searching for the fire when 

the fire rapidly emerged from a concealed 

space and trapped both firefighters.

• Two firefighters were trapped underwater 

and drowned in 2005. One firefighter was 

involved in a water rescue in Iraq and the 

other firefighter was engaged in water rescue 

training.

• Two firefighters died in basement fires. A New 

York firefighter was killed in the basement of a 

home when fire conditions developed rapidly, 

and a Pennsylvania firefighter was killed in a 

basement fire training scenario at a training 

facility.

• A Michigan firefighter was killed when fire 

progress blocked his escape from a residential 

structure fire.

• A Virginia firefighter was killed when rapid fire 

progress at a wildland fire overcame him.

• A Missouri firefighter was caught in machinery 

as he attempted to access the upper levels of a 

mill that was involved in a fire.

Falls

Five firefighters died in 2005 as a result of falls, the 

same number as were killed by falls in 2004. This 

was the fourth most common cause of fatal injury 

for firefighters in 2005. 

• Two New York City firefighters were killed 

when they were forced to jump from a fifthstory window during a fire in a multiple-family 

residence.

• A Texas firefighter was killed when he fell from 

a ladder truck as it turned a corner during an 

emergency response.

Since 2002, eight firefighters have died 

as the result of falls from vehicles.

• A Connecticut firefighter was killed when he 

slipped and fell as he attempted to descend a 

ladder from the top of a training building.

• A Delaware firefighter died after a prolonged 

fight to overcome injuries received when he 

slipped and fell through a fire station pole hole.

Struck by Object

Being struck by an object was the fifth leading 

cause of fatal firefighter injuries in 2005. Four 

firefighters died after being struck by vehicles or 

other objects while on duty.

• A Texas firefighter was killed when a portion of 

a burning house collapsed and he was struck 

down and trapped in the debris.

• A North Carolina firefighter was killed when a 

large portion of a fire-damaged tree detached 

and fell on him, inflicting fatal injuries.

• A New Jersey fire police officer was killed 

when he was struck by a vehicle operated by a 

driver under the influence of alcohol.

• A Kentucky firefighter was killed when the 

tanker he had been driving rolled forward and 

crushed him.

Contact/Exposure

Three firefighters were killed in 2005 when they 

came into contact with or were exposed to harm:

• Two firefighters were electrocuted after coming 

into contact with an energized electrical wire.

• An Iowa firefighter was killed when he came 

into contact with manure gas while attempting 

to rescue a coworker in manure pit.

Assault

A Tennessee firefighter was killed when he was the 

victim of an assault. The firefighter was shot in a 

domestic violence situation between a secretary 

and her husband in the secretary’s office, where 

the firefighter was waiting for a fire truck to be 

repaired. 
2

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Other

Six firefighters died in 2005 of causes that are not 

categorized above: 

• A North Carolina firefighter died as a result of a 

heart valve problem.

• Two firefighters died of medication overdoses.

• Two firefighters died of pulmonary embolisms.

• A Florida firefighter died of heat stress.

Nature of Fatal Injury

Table 10 and Figure 11 show the 115 deaths 

distributed by the medical nature of the fatal injury 

or illness. 

Table 10. Nature of Fatal Injury (2005)

Nature Number

Heart Attack 55

Internal Trauma 32

Asphyxiation 8

CVA 6

Burns 3

Crushed 2

Electrocution 2

Heat Exhaustion 1

Other 6

Total 115

Figure 11. Fatalities by Nature of Fatal Injury (2005)
2

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Figure 12. Heart Attacks by Type of Duty (2005)

Heart Attack

Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of 

death for 2005, with 55 firefighter deaths, down 

from 61 heart attack deaths in 2004. The timing of 

illness onset can range from the time at which the 

firefighter is walking from the station to his or her 

car after the conclusion of the incident, to the next 

day. Figure 12 provides a detailed breakdown of 

heart attacks by type of duty involved. 

• Eighteen firefighters died of heart attacks that 

struck after the conclusion of an incident 

response or onduty period:

− These firefighters suffered heart attacks 

within 24 hours of onduty stressful or 

strenuous activity.

− Fourteen of the 16 firefighters included in 

this report under the Hometown Heroes 

criteria are in this group.

• Thirteen firefighters died of heart attacks that 

struck while they were working on the incident 

scene:

− Three firefighters experienced heart attacks 

while fighting wildland fires.

− An Arkansas firefighter suffered a heart 

attack while operating a fire pump at a car 

fire.

− Eight firefighters were stricken with heart 

attacks at the scene of structural fires.

− A Delaware firefighter collapsed of a heart 

attack while answering an automatic fire 

alarm in a building.

• Seven firefighters experienced heart attacks 

while on duty but not assigned to an incident 

or participating in training:

− Four firefighters became ill as they worked 

or slept in the fire station while on duty.

− A New York firefighter became ill as he 

marched in a fire department parade.
26

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

− A Mississippi firefighter suffered a 

heart attack as she participated in a fire 

department fundraising event.

− A Georgia firefighter suffered a heart attack 

and crashed the truck he was driving after 

the truck had been washed.

• Six firefighters suffered heart attacks while they 

were responding to incidents:

− Four firefighters collapsed from heart 

attacks prior to leaving their residences 

after having been dispatched.

− A West Virginia firefighter suffered a heart 

attack as he drove his personal vehicle to 

the fire station.

− A Nebraska firefighter experienced chest 

pains as he drove a piece of apparatus to an 

incident; he later died of a heart attack.

• Six firefighters were involved in training 

activities when they had heart attacks:

− Firefighters in Florida and Kentucky died 

while involved in SCBA training.

− Firefighters in New Mexico and New Jersey 

died while participating in physical fitness 

training.

− A New Mexico firefighter suffered a heart 

attack while participating in wildland treefelling training.

− A Texas firefighter fell ill after training in 

the fire station.

• Three firefighters became ill and died of heart 

attacks that occurred while they were assigned 

to nonfire emergencies:

− A South Carolina firefighter died on the 

scene of an EMS incident.

− A New Jersey firefighter collapsed on the 

scene of a gas leak in a home, and later 

died.

− An Alabama firefighter arrived on the scene 

of a motor vehicle crash and collapsed 

shortly after getting out of his vehicle.

• Two firefighters suffered heart attacks as they 

returned from emergencies:

− A Kentucky firefighter suffered a heart 

attack as he drove his personal vehicle back 

to the fire station after responding to a 

lightning strike on a residence.

− A Georgia firefighter had a heart attack as 

he drove his engine company from the 

scene of a weather-related emergency.

Internal Trauma

In 2005, 32 firefighters died due to internal 

physical trauma. This grouping includes most 

firefighters killed in vehicle crashes and those who 

received physical injuries. 

Table 11. Internal Trauma Firefighter Deaths 

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 32

2004 31

2003 41

2002 34

2001 28*

2000 36

1999 25

1998 27

1997 32

1996 32

1995 24

1994 21

* Does not include the firefighter deaths of September 11, 2001, in New 

York City.

• Two New York City firefighters were killed 

when they were forced to jump from a fireinvolved structure.

• Three firefighters were killed in the crash of an 

airtanker during training.
2

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

• Three firefighters were killed when a helicopter 

crashed while supporting a prescribed burn in 

Texas.

• Five firefighters were killed in crashes involving 

their personal vehicles.

• Four firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) 

crashes.

• Four firefighters were killed in crashes that 

involved engine or pumper apparatus.

• Three firefighters died in falls. A Connecticut 

firefighter fell from a ladder, a Delaware 

firefighter slipped and fell through a pole hole, 

and a Texas firefighter died after falling from a 

ladder truck during a response.

• A New York firefighter died in the crash of a 

rescue truck as it returned to the fire station.

• A Kansas firefighter was killed when the brush 

truck he was driving crashed into a fire tanker 

that was responding to the same incident.

• A Missouri firefighter was killed when his car 

was struck by another car whose driver was 

fleeing law enforcement.

• A Missouri firefighter was killed when he 

was struck by a push vehicle while working a 

standby at a local race track.

• An Alabama firefighter was killed in a collision 

involving a fire rescue boat.

• A Nevada firefighter was killed in an ATV crash.

• A Tennessee firefighter died from gunshot 

wounds.

• A New Jersey fire police officer was struck and 

killed by a driver who was under the influence 

of alcohol.

Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation was the third leading medical reason 

for firefighter deaths in 2005, responsible for eight 

deaths: 

• Four firefighters suffered fatal smoke inhalation 

in structure fires in Wyoming, Michigan, New 

York, and Houston.

• Two firefighters drowned, one in Pennsylvania 

during training and the other during a rescue 

attempt in Iraq.

• A Missouri firefighter was entangled in a man 

lift and died of positional asphyxiation.

• An Iowa firefighter died from exposure to 

manure gas during an attempted rescue.

Table 12. Firefighter Deaths due to Asphyxiation

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 8

2004 5

2003 6

2002 15

2001 18

2000 13

1999 16

1998 15

1997 15

1996 5

1995 20

1994 29

Cerebrovascular Accident

Six firefighters died in 2005 as a result of strokes 

(CVA’s):

• A New York firefighter suffered a CVA during 

structural firefighting training.

• A Tennessee firefighter suffered a CVA as he 

drove his engine back from a false alarm.

• An Oregon firefighter died of a CVA that struck 

at a fire management conference.

• A New Jersey firefighter suffered a stroke while 

driving a fire department pumper in a funeral 

procession.
2

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

• A Maryland firefighter was struck with a CVA 

when setting up for a fire department event.

• A New York firefighter collapsed due to a CVA 

shortly after arriving on the scene of a working 

structure fire.

Burns

Three firefighters died as a result of burns in 2005, 

the same number of firefighter deaths of this 

nature as in 2004.

• A Wyoming firefighter died of burns received 

in a structure fire when he and another 

firefighter were trapped by fire progress.

• A Pennsylvania firefighter died of burns 

received in a training exercise.

• A Virginia firefighter received fatal burns in a 

wildland fire.

Crushed

Two firefighters were killed in 2005 as a result of 

being crushed:

• A Kentucky firefighter was crushed by a tanker 

truck that he drove to the scene of a structure 

fire. The firefighter stopped the truck, walked 

in front of it, and was crushed as the truck 

rolled forward.

• A North Carolina firefighter was killed when a 

large portion of a fire-damaged tree fell on him.

Electrocution

Two firefighters were fatally electrocuted in 2005:

• A California firefighter was electrocuted when 

he came into contact with a live wire at a 

structural fire.

• Kansas firefighter was killed when he left his 

home and contacted an energized wire after 

reporting a wildland fire caused by lightning.

Heat Exhaustion

One firefighter was killed due to heat exhaustion 

in 2005. A Florida firefighter collapsed during a 

training run and subsequently died.

Other

Six firefighters died in situations in which the 

nature of their deaths does not fall into any of the 

categories described above: 

• Firefighters in New York and Wisconsin died of 

pulmonary embolisms.

• Firefighters in Arizona and New York died of 

drug intoxication.

• A North Carolina firefighter died of a heart 

condition related to problems with heart valves.

• A Texas firefighter died of an aortic aneurysm.
2

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Firefighter Ages

Figure 13 shows the percentage distribution of 

firefighter deaths by age and nature of the fatal 

injury. Table 13 provides counts of firefighter 

fatalities by age and the nature of the fatal injury.

As in most years, younger firefighters were more 

likely than older firefighters to die as a result 

of traumatic injuries, such as injuries from an 

apparatus accident or injuries sustained after 

becoming caught or trapped during firefighting 

operations. Stress plays an increasing role in 

firefighter deaths as age increases. 

The youngest firefighter killed on duty 

in 2005 was Firefighter Trainee Justin 

Wisniewski of Connecticut. He died after a 

fall from a roof during training at age 18.

Table 13. Firefighter Ages and Nature of Fatal Injury

Age Range Nontrauma Total Trauma Total

under 21 0 3

21 to 25 0 5

26 to 30 2 3

31 to 35 2 5

36 to 40 7 7

41 to 45 9 5

46 to 50 11 5

51 to 60 22 10

61 & over 13 5

Note: Age of one firefighter unknown.

Figure 13. Fatalities by Age and Nature (2005)
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

The oldest firefighter killed on duty in 2005 

was Fire Police Officer Joseph Walsh of 

New Jersey. He died at age 76 after being 

struck by a car driven by a drunk driver.

Fixed Property Use for 

Structural FireFighting Deaths

There were 19 firefighter fatalities in 2005 in 

which the firefighters became ill while on the 

scene of, or engaged in, structural firefighting. 

Table 14 shows the distribution of these deaths by 

fixed property use. As in most years, residential 

occupancies accounted for the highest number of 

these fireground fatalities, with 18 deaths. 

Table 15 shows the number of firefighter deaths 

in residential occupancies for the last 8 years. 

Residential occupancies usually account for 70 

to 80 percent of all structure fires and a similar 

percentage of the civilian fire deaths each year.* 

Historically, the frequency of firefighter deaths in 

relation to the number of fires is much higher for 

nonresidential structures.

Table 14. Structural Firerfighting Deaths by 

Fixed Property Use (2005)

Fixed Property Use Number Percent

Residential 18 94.7%

Commercial 1 5.3%

* Complete 2005 NFIRS fire incidence data were not available at the time 

of this report, but residential fires typically account for between 70 and 80 

percent of all civilian fatalities each year, according to the NFPA.

Table 15. Firefighter Deaths in Residential 

Occupancies

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 18

2004 15

2003 10

2002 21

2001 17

2000 21

1999 23

1998 17

1997 16

1996 19

1995 18

1994 25

Type of Activity

In 2005, there were a total of 27 firefighter deaths 

on the fireground. Table 16 and Figure 14 show 

the types of fireground activities firefighters 

were engaged in at the time they sustained their 

fatal injuries or illnesses. This total includes all 

firefighting duties, such as wildland firefighting 

and structural firefighting.

Table 16. Type of Activity (2005)

Nature Number

Fire Attack 11

Search and Rescue 6

Water Supply 2

Incident Command 2

Scene Safety 1

Other 5

Total 27
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Figure 14. Fatalities by Type of Activity (2005)

Note: Onscene fire only, 27 of 115 fatalities.

Fire Attack

In 2005, 11 firefighters were killed as they engaged 

in direct fire attack, such as advancing or operating a 

hoseline at a fire scene. In years past, most fireground 

firefighter deaths occurred while the firefighter was 

engaged in fire attack (see Table 17).

• A Houston firefighter was killed when he was 

trapped by a structural collapse at a residential 

structure fire as he and his crew advanced an 

attack line to the fire.

• A Michigan firefighter helped to advance a 

hoseline into a residential structure, attempting 

to find the seat of a fire. He left the line to 

continue the search when fire conditions 

changed rapidly and trapped him in the 

structure.

• A California firefighter was electrocuted when 

he came into contact with an energized wire at 

a structure fire where his crew was assigned to 

exposure protection.

• A New Jersey firefighter was operating a 

handline on a defensive fire in a manufactured 

(mobile) home when he became ill; he later 

died of a heart attack.

• A California firefighter was helping to fight a fire in 

a historic home when he suffered a heart attack.

• A North Carolina firefighter was killed when a 

large fire-weakened tree branch fell on top of 

him and inflicted fatal injuries.

• An Oklahoma firefighter died of a heart attack 

that struck as he operated a handline on a 

wildland fire.

• A South Dakota firefighter was struck with 

a heart attack after he and other firefighters 

controlled a wildland fire caused by a fire in a 

hay bailer.

• A Mississippi firefighter collapsed suddenly 

after the control of a small wildland fire.

• A California firefighter collapsed from a heart 

attack after leaving a fire-involved structure to 

change his SCBA cylinder.

• A Virginia firefighter was overrun by fire 

progress and burned at a wildland fire.
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Table 17. Firefighter Deaths While Engaged in 

Fire Attack

Year Number of Firefighter Deaths

2005 11

2004 16

2003 11

2002 13

2001 13

2000 13

1999 16

1998 18

1997 21

1996 9

1995 18

1994 7

Search and Rescue

Six firefighters were killed in 2005 as they engaged 

in search-and-rescue activities:

• Two New York City firefighters were trapped 

by fire progress in a multiple dwelling as they 

searched for occupants. The firefighters were 

forced to jump out a fifth-story window due to 

fire conditions, and were killed in the fall.

• Two Wyoming firefighters were trapped by 

fire progress in a townhouse as they searched 

for children who were reported trapped in the 

structure.

• A New York firefighter collapsed shortly after 

completing the search of a house.

• A New York City firefighter was trapped by 

fire progress in the basement of a home as he 

performed a search.

Water Supply

Two firefighters died in 2005 while engaged in 

water supply duties:

• A Kentucky firefighter was crushed by the 

tanker (tender) he was driving in a water 

supply shuttle. The firefighter dismounted the 

truck, walked in front of it, and was struck by 

the truck as it rolled forward.

• An Arkansas firefighter suffered a heart attack as 

he operated the pump at a car fire.

Scene Safety

A Pennsylvania fire police officer suffered a heart 

attack while directing traffic at a structural fire in a 

residence.

Incident Command

Two firefighters died as they carried out command 

duties on the fire scene in 2005:

• A New York command officer collapsed from a 

CVA upon arriving at a working structure fire.

• An Arkansas fire chief felt ill and suffered 

a heart attack as he commanded a fire 

suppression operation. 

Other Activity

Five firefighters became ill and later died of various 

injuries, not listed above, that were suffered on the 

fire scene: 

• A New York fire coordinator suffered a heart 

attack on the fire scene.

• A Delaware firefighter drove an engine 

company to the scene of a fire alarm activation 

and collapsed upon arriving at the scene.

• A New York firefighter collapsed at the scene of 

a fire in his house after he and other firefighters 

had arrived on the scene.

• A Kansas firefighter was electrocuted as he went 

to investigate a wildland fire on his property 

caused by a lightning strike. He called the fire 

department, left the house, and was discovered 

by firefighters later in the evening.

• A Missouri firefighter was killed when he was 

entangled by a man lift as he ascended to the 

upper reaches of a mill to investigate a fire.
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

33

Time of Injury

The distribution of all 2005 firefighter deaths according to the time of day when the fatal injury occurred, 

is illustrated in Figure 15. The time of fatal injury for seven firefighters either was not known or was not 

reported. 

Figure 15. Fatalities by Time of Fatal Injury (2005)

Month of the Year

Figure 16 illustrates firefighter fatalities by month of the year. 

Figure 16. Deaths by Month of the Year (2005)
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

34

State and Region

The distribution of firefighter deaths by State is shown in Table 18. Firefighters based in 37 States died in 

2005.

The highest number of firefighter deaths, based on the location of the fire service organization, occurred 

in New York, with 18 deaths in 2005. 

Table 18. Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service* (2005)

Number State Percent of Total

1 Nebraska 0.86%

1 Nevada 0.86%

1 New Hampshire 0.86%

5 New Jersey 4.34%

3 New Mexico 2.60%

18 New York 15.6%

1 Oklahoma 0.86%

1 Oregon 0.86%

8 Pennsylvania 6.95%

1 South Carolina 0.86%

2 South Dakota 1.73%

3 Tennessee 2.60%

9 Texas 7.82%

1 Utah 0.86%

1 Virginia 0.86%

2 West Virginia 1.73%

1 Wisconsin 0.86%

2 Wyoming 1.73%

Number State Percent of Total

4 Alabama 3.47%

1 Arizona 0.86%

2 Arkansas 1.73%

9 California 7.82%

2 Connecticut 1.73%

2 Delaware 1.73%

3 Florida 2.60%

3 Georgia 2.60%

2 Indiana 1.73%

2 Iowa 1.73%

2 Kansas 1.73%

6 Kentucky 5.21%

1 Louisiana 0.86%

2 Maryland 1.73%

2 Michigan 1.73%

1 Minnesota 0.86%

3 Mississippi 2.60%

3 Missouri 2.60%

4 North Carolina 3.47%

*This list attributes the deaths to the State in which the fire department or unit is based, as opposed to the State in which the death occurred. 

They are listed by those States for statistical purposes and for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Emergency Training 

Center.
35

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

NORTHCENTRAL

Career - 5

Volunteer - 15

Wildland - 2

Total - 22

NORTHEAST

Career - 8

Volunteer - 30

Total -38

SOUTH

Career - 16

Volunteer - 18

Wildland - 3

Total - 37

WEST

Career - 5

Volunteer - 8

Wildland - 5

Total - 18

Figure 17. Firefighter Fatalities by Region (2005)
3

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Analysis of Urban/Rural/

Suburban Patterns in Firefighter 

Fatalities

The United States Bureau of the Census defines 

“urban” as a place having a population of at least 

2,500 or lying within a designated urban area. 

“Rural” is defined as any community that is not 

urban. “Suburban” is not a Census term, but may 

be taken to refer to any place, urban or rural, that 

lies within a metropolitan area defined by the 

Census Bureau, but not within 1 mile of the central 

cities of that metropolitan area.

Fire department areas of responsibility do not 

always conform to the boundaries used for the 

census. For example, fire departments organized 

by counties or special fire protection districts 

may have both urban and rural coverage areas. In 

such cases, it may not be possible to characterize 

the entire coverage area of the fire department as 

rural or urban, and firefighter deaths were listed as 

urban or rural based on the particular community 

or location in which the fatality occurred.

The following patterns were found for 2005 

firefighter fatalities. These statistics are based on 

answers from the fire departments and, when 

no data from the departments were available, the 

data are based upon population and area served as 

reported by the fire departments.

Table 19. Firefighter Deaths by Coverage 

Area Type

Urban/

Suburban Rural

Federal or 

State Parks/ 

Wildland

Total

Firefighter 

Deaths 54 51 10 115

Information on chronic exposure to diesel 

exhaust for firefighters can be found at 

http://www.richter-foundation.org/home.html

IN CONCLUSION

In 2005, the fire service suffered another year of 

unacceptable loss; however, a number of hopeful 

signs emerged during the year.

• If the Hometown Hero firefighter deaths included 

in this study since 2003 are set aside for a moment, 

the number of firefighter deaths according to the 

standard report criteria (making multiyear 

analysis possible) dropped below 100 for the 

first time since 1998.

• The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 

continued its work on preventing firefighter 

fatalities. The 16 initiatives that are the basis 

of their efforts were seen in fire service 

publications, included in fire service conference 

presentations, and included in local training. 

The Foundation’s theme, “Everyone Goes 

Home,” is pervasive.

• The IAFC sponsored a Firefighter Safety Stand 

Down. Nineteen fire service organizations 

partnered to make the event a success. This 

event encouraged fire departments to stop 

normal business for a day and devote that day 

or that shift to firefighter safety. According to 

the IAFC, an estimated 10,000 fire departments 

participated in 2005. The theme of the 2006 

stand down will be vehicle safety.

The last firefighter fatality in 2005 was 

Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Hart of 

West Virginia. His car was struck by a 

tractor-trailer as he returned from teaching 

a class. The last firefighter death of 

2004 also occurred in a vehicle crash.
• The IAFF, the IAFC, and the Volunteer Chief 

Officers Section of the IAFC joined forces 

to launch the National Fire Fighter NearMiss Reporting System. This Web site allows 

firefighters to learn from the experiences 

of other firefighters. Lessons learned by 

firefighters who have almost been seriously 

injured or almost killed are posted on the 

site by the firefighters themselves. The site 

is available free of charge to all fire service 

members at www.firefighternearmiss.com/

• Federal fire service grant programs, recognizing 

the value of firefighter safety, have funded 

millions of dollars worth of firefighter safety 

equipment.

The task for 2006 and beyond is to determine 

whether these changes will have a lasting impact. 

Firefighter safety cannot be a fad or a temporary 

fix. These programs have pointed out that a 

cultural shift is required in the fire service—one 

that requires risk management at every emergency; 

and one that balances risks and benefits throughout 

the preparation for response and the response to 

emergencies.

38

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion


41

S

Personnel Accountability

Saturday, February 19, 2005—0604hrs—Houston, Texas

Captain Grady Burke and the members of Houston 

Fire Department Engine 46 arrive 3 minutes after 

dispatch to find a working fire in a residence. The 

crew was ordered to execute a fast attack on the fire 

and stretched an attack line through the front door. 

Engine 46’s crew was joined by ladder company 

firefighters as they moved into the interior of the 

structure to find the seat of the fire.

Without warning, a structural collapse occurred 

and fire advanced quickly into the areas occupied 

by the crew of Engine 46 and ladder company 

firefighters. An emergency evacuation was 

ordered by the Incident Commander (IC). With 

fire moving quickly and with great force, the 

firefighters inside the structure were forced to exit 

the house quickly through doors and windows.

Once they were outside, a Personnel Accountability 

Report (PAR) was ordered, and company officers 

and crews took head counts to make sure 

that everyone was out. As the PAR was being 

completed, an electronic accountability system 

used by the Houston Fire Department received a 

distress signal from Captain Burke’s PASS device 

indicating that he was motionless.

A second alarm was ordered by the IC, and Rapid 

Intervention Crews (RIC’s) were directed to the 

interior. Captain Burke was located under 2 to 3 

feet of debris; he had expired as a result of smoke 

inhalation.

Firefighters operate in an extremely hazardous 

atmosphere when fighting structure fires. In 

addition to the dangers posed by the fire itself, 

firefighters often are forced to feel their way 

through a maze of rooms where they have never 

been before, in total darkness. 

Changing fire conditions and unfamiliar 

surroundings lead firefighters to become lost or 

disoriented within structure fires. Many times, 

firefighters either cannot accurately describe their 

location to rescuers, or may describe their location 

incorrectly, or may be unable to communicate at 

all. Accountability systems assist firefighters and 

the IC in keeping track of the location and function 

of every firefighter on the emergency scene.

If something goes wrong on the fire scene, 

accountability systems give the firefighter his or 

her best chance for survival. This section will 

examine the requirements for accountability 

systems in incidents large and small.

Overview

Over the past 15 years, fire and emergency service 

departments have increasingly recognized the value 

of personnel accountability, for a variety of reasons. 

Maintaining complete awareness regarding the 

status of operating forces is essential for the safe 

and effective management of any fire or emergency 

scene. Accurate information on crew locations 

and assignments is needed for strategic and 

tactical decisionmaking, giving IC’s and Division/

Group/Unit Supervisors the assurance that critical 

tasks are performed with the required degree of 
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

coordination; this information also is important for 

tracking resource status, planning work-rest cycles, 

and carrying out demobilization activities. After a 

building collapse or other “mayday” situation, an 

updated list of personnel assignments will facilitate 

the identification, location, and rescue of lost, 

trapped, or endangered firefighters.

The need for continued attention to personnel 

accountability has, unfortunately, been bolstered 

by a series of firefighter line-of-duty deaths over 

the years. In some of these cases, personnel were 

“lost” in the chaos; in other examples, entire crews 

were mistakenly identified as being “safe,” while 

their colleagues remained in danger.

Personnel accountability ultimately depends 

on more than any single system, technology, 

or procedure; it requires a combination of 

these, underpinned by a well-practiced incident 

management system and effective communications. 

NFPA Standards 1500-2002 and 1561

There are two significant NFPA Standards 

that affect how fire departments create and 

implement their Personnel Accountability 

Systems—NFPA 1500 (Chapter 8— 

Emergency Operations) and NFPA 1561.

Incident Management

“An Incident Management System (IMS) is a management 

system used to organize emergency response and effectively and 

safely manage an incident.” 

No personnel accountability system can be 

expected to work in the absence of an established, 

properly functioning (standards-based) IMS 

doctrine. With the advent of the National Incident 

Management System (NIMS), there should be no 

circumstance in which firefighters are operating 

at a working incident without an IMS in place. 

The system alone is not enough, however; IC’s, 

Safety Officers, and Division/Group Supervisors 

must take personal responsibility for knowing the 

whereabouts of operating personnel at all times. 

Furthermore, it is incumbent on system users to 

ensure that the system accurately reflects their 

location, crew, and work assignment at all times.

Communication

Personnel accountability ultimately rests on clear 

communication between individual firefighters 

and their supervisors at all levels in the IMS. 

Personnel must have the means and the will to 

notify the IC of any changes of their location or 

work assignment, so that the accountability system 

may be updated to reflect reality. Interoperability is 

also critical consideration; it would be difficult at 

best to maintain a personnel accountability system 

involving personnel on multiple radio channels 

without the ability to freely communicate through 

the IMS. Whatever the specific system used, the 

effectiveness of any personnel accountability 

system depends on communication between 

operating units and the accountability officer and/

or IC. 

Personnel Accountability Systems

Generally speaking, personnel accountability 

systems currently deployed by fire and emergency 

service departments in the United States for 

small-footprint events use an integrated set 

of components to identify functional units 

and personnel assigned to them. Helmet tags, 

replaceable helmet shields, “passports,” hose tags, 

and other items are used to capture information, 

while a variety of accountability boards, preprinted forms, collector rings, etc., are used to 

display the collected information in a format 

accessible to the IC and his or her subordinates. 

Regardless of the specifics of any given personnel 

accountability system, most systems use similar 

methods for determining how individuals and 

units are tracked throughout an incident.
Personnel Accountability Technology

Standards-based technology holds great promise 

for improving the state-of-the-art in personnel 

accountability; these advances generally fall into 

three categories: (1) technologies supporting 

the implementation of personnel accountability 

systems (e.g., hardware and software solutions 

for tracking and/or displaying personnel, units, 

and assignments); (2) individually deployed 

technologies improving the chance that downed 

firefighters or rescuers will be quickly located 

(e.g., integrated PASS devices, GPS transponders, 

firefighter rescue transceivers, etc.); and (3) 

technologies employing aspects of both (1) and (2). 

A PASS device is an acronym for the “Personal 

Alert Safety System,” typically a one-way 

communications device used by firefighters 

entering a building to alert the outside Rapid 

Intervention Team (RIT) or Firefighter Assist and 

Search Team (FAST) that the wearer of the PASS 

device is in trouble and in need of rescue.

The PASS device has two methods of being 

activated (if turned on): manually by a firefighter 

or automatically when the firefighter is no 

longer moving. The device creates a high-pitched 

squealing or beeping sound, to be heard by fellow 

firefighters. These style devices are powered by 

battery and can be turned on using gloves and 

are safe to operate in flammable or explosive 

atmospheres. 

Older versions of PASS devices were worn on the 

firefighter’s belt or bunker gear, and they required 

the firefighter to turn them on separately from 

the SCBA. Because of this, there have been many 

fatalities in which firefighters were wearing their 

PASS devices, but the devices were not activated. 

Integrated PASS devices are now required to meet 

NFPA Standard 1981. However, there are still 

many SCBA in use across the United States that 

do not have integrated PASS devices, and thus 

are dependent on activation by the individual 

firefighter to work properly.

The future holds great promise for supporting 

personnel accountability systems through “next 

generation” devices that will track firefighters’ 

whereabouts, biometrics, etc., throughout an 

incident. A standards-based approach, however, is 

a critical component of interoperability for these 

systems so that for mutual-aid and/or wide-area 

disaster responses, individuals, regardless of the 

specific vendor or technology employed, and the 

equipment they use will show up on and work 

43

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Currently, in major metropolitan areas such as Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston, Texas, the fire 

departments employ personnel accountability systems such as these: 

Houston Fire Department—Houston uses a dual system of an integrated PASS and SCBA and a 

backup T-PASS device. The T-PASS (electronic accountability system) sends a radio signal to a 

base receiver that is maintained and monitored by the IC. The base receiver provides the IC with 

an audible and visual status of each firefighter on the scene.

The Phoenix Fire Department has used the passport accountability system for over a decade. 

All fire departments in the Phoenix metropolitan area use the same system. The system 

consists of small passport tags in each apparatus with the names of firefighters assigned to 

the apparatus attached by means of velcro to the passport. A standard system exists for the 

collection and use of the passports at small and large incidents. The names of firefighters 

assigned to a crew can be displayed on any mobile computer attached to the dispatch system.
with the system employed by any Safety Officer, 

anywhere. Some systems may provide a visual 

display to the IC at all times, helping to provide a 

common operating picture, maintain accountability, 

and reinforce the overall IMS by strengthening 

strategic and tactical decisions. Existing systems that 

are available and in common use in the United 

Kingdom provide an automated “tally” (or list) 

of all members operating on an incident. Such 

systems also can support improved air management 

and work-rest cycles. 

T

hanks to members of the fire service who 

submitted Firefighter Field Experience 

Debriefing forms from their experiences working 

Katrina (Community Relations), many of which 

addressed the lack of functional command and 

control and the lack of personnel accountability. 

Personnel accountability, an integral part of the 

Incident Command System (ICS), is most often 

thought of as being required only on discrete fireground locations; however, these technologies, 

systems, and policies also are needed on wildland 

fires, search and rescue incidents, and largescale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. These 

types of incidents most often cover large areas 

and increase the magnitude and complexity of 

personnel accountability. Fire service doctrine 

for accountability in such wide-area scenarios, 

especially when firefighters are not performing 

traditional functions, such as community 

relations, is in need of further consideration 

and development.

A universal map referencing system standard 

(a common map grid), critical at the human 

interface, be it voice communications protocols, 

paper maps, tracking charts, digital display, or 

“next generation” location-based technologies, 

is the U.S. National Grid (USNG-NAD83). 

USNG is a nationally defined map coordinate 

system based upon and interoperable with 

UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) and the 

Military Grid Reference System (MGRS-WGS84), 

“a language of location,” to supplement street 

address and other local references for a variety of 

operational purposes (search on “grid” http://

www.ci.lincoln.ne.us/CITY/FIRE/usar/members/

misc/katrina/aar1.pdf), including a standardsbased approach to personnel accountability 

systems and supporting Geospatial Information 

Technologies (GIT). In a wide-area scenario, 

for deployed individuals/teams from multiple 

agencies and jurisdictions operating under Unified 

Command, a concept both more important and 

more complicated when local, State, and Federal 

commanders are required to coordinate their 

efforts together (often in areas devoid of street 

signs), for safety’s sake, knowing precisely where 

all responders are at all times, in case things go 

wrong and a Mayday is called, is critical. The 

USNG facilitates coordinated rapid intervention 

capabilities coming from disparate agencies/

organizations in the area of operations. 

The USFA recommends USNG as a standard 

referencing system at the user interface in 

order to ensure that everyone (fire service, law 

enforcement, military, and civilians) is on the 

same map page in the coming years (http://

firechief.com/news/national-grid-usng8376/

index.html).

For more information on the USNG go to 

http://www.fgdc.gov/usng/index.html 

Community of Practice for GIT in Disaster and 

Emergency Management: http://mississippi.

deltastate.edu/

44

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion
45

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

FEMA Director R. David Paulison in written testimony submitted to the U.S. Senate Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for his confirmation hearing 05/24/2006:

“The NIMS Integration Center is considering the adoption of the ‘National Grid’ unified 

mapping system as a potential NIMS implementation standard. The mapping system would 

help saves lives, reduce the costs of the disaster, and enhance all disaster related actions.”

Quick Fix­—Safe Convoy Movements of Fire 

Service Personnel

From Katrina Firefighter Field Experience 

Debriefings regarding convoys under escort of law 

enforcement entities: 

“We then ran back and proceeded to convoy 

down at 95 MILES PER HOUR!!! This was 

not only unsafe, it was unnecessary.”

“Imagine 60 cars traveling on the Interstate 

between 95 and 100 mph—dodging debris 

and other cars. It certainly didn’t make any 

sense to me (it wasn’t like the hurricane had 

just occurred). It was not surprising that 

by the time we made it through 

the road blocks on the west side of the city, 

our convoy was scattered to the winds.”

1. Discuss basic doctrine for convoy movements 

with the escort commander before 

departing, stressing safety considerations 

such as operating at a reasonable speed in 

consideration of all types of vehicles in the 

convoy (large trucks, high-profile multipac 

vans, etc.) and road conditions. 

2. Have a basic operational plan and briefing 

for the movement that includes clear safety 

instructions (maximum safe speed, mandatory 

use of seatbelts!); properly gridded maps* 

(and GPS* if available) for each vehicle with 

the route and other necessary information 

clearly marked; other relevant directions and 

information regarding the movement provided 

to all vehicle operators before departing (grid 

designations and other addressing information 

for final destination, waypoints/turnpoints, 

traffic control points (TCP’s) if known, special 

hazard areas, etc.); protocols to be followed 

(convoy sweep contingencies) should a vehicle 

encounter an emergency while en route, 

breakdown, or fall out of convoy for any other 

reason.

3. At any time, do not operate your vehicle, or 

allow a vehicle in which you are riding, to 

operate in an unsafe manner. If you consider 

a convoy movement in which you are a 

participant to be unsafe, indicate to other 

vehicles your intention to leave the convoy 

(turn signal, hazard signal lights) then do so in 

a safe manner. 

4. Report unsafe practices to your chain-ofcommand.

*Map grid and GPS both set to USNG-NAD83 or interoperable MGRS-WGS84.

Ap p e n dix A

Su m m a r y o f 2005 In c i d e n t s

47

January 2, 2005—1747hrs

Ornell Edgar Fuller, Jr., Captain

Age 40, Volunteer

Midway Volunteer Fire Department, Dexter, New 

Mexico

Captain Fuller and the members of his fire 

department responded to a structure fire in a singlefamily residence. Heat from the home’s woodburning stove had ignited the ceiling above the

stove. The fire was controlled by firefighters, and all 

units were back in service by 1820hrs.

Captain Fuller went to work the next day. When

he failed to return home that evening, his parents

searched for him and found him dead at his place of

work. Captain Fuller’s death was caused by a heart

attack.

Captain Fuller’s father is the chief of the Midway

Volunteer Fire Department.

•

January 3, 2005—2315hrs

Carl E. Sherman, Firefighter

Age 66, Volunteer

Southington Fire Department, Connecticut

Firefighter Sherman participated in a monthly fire 

department drill. The drill involved SCBA training

activity at the fire station from 1930hrs through 

2110hrs. The training consisted of repeatedly

donning and doffing SCBA’s, and of basic 

maintenance procedures. The training session

ended and firefighters returned to their homes.

At 2315hrs, an ambulance was called to the home

of Firefighter Sherman. Firefighter Sherman’s wife 

had found him unresponsive in his bed. He was

transported to the hospital and admitted to the

emergency room. He was diagnosed as suffering

from cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at

0025hrs on January 4, 2005.

•

January 6, 2005—0744hrs

Christopher R. DeWolf, Lieutenant

Age 40, Career

Newington Fire and Rescue, New Hampshire

Lieutenant DeWolf was at home, off duty. Due

to weather conditions and incident activity, his

shift was paged to respond to the fire station for 

coverage.

Lieutenant DeWolf was in uniform and driving his

personal vehicle when he was involved in a singlevehicle crash. His vehicle lost traction on the snowcovered roadway, left the roadway, rolled over the

guardrail, and collided with a sign pole and concrete

base. 

The crash caused major intrusion into the

passenger area of Lieutenant DeWolf’s Dodge

Durango. The crash investigation indicated that

Lieutenant DeWolf (who was wearing his seatbelt)

was killed instantly as a result of severe head

trauma. Unsafe speed for the road conditions was

cited as the cause of the crash.

Lieutenant DeWolf had been a member of the

Dover Fire Department for 17 years before joining

Newington Fire and Rescue. He also was a wellknown fire-service trainer.

•
48

January 7, 2005—1724hrs

Timmy Young, Fire Equipment Operator

Age 41, Career

Columbia Fire Department, South Carolina

Fire Equipment Operator Young and his engine crew responded to an EMS call 

at a residence. Firefighters entered the residence and found an individual who 

had been dead for some time. After exiting the dwelling, Fire Equipment Operator 

Young became ill and collapsed. Responders on the scene provided immediate

care, and Fire Equipment Operator Young was transported to the hospital, 

suffering from a heart attack.

After undergoing emergency procedures at the hospital, Fire Equipment Operator 

Young was placed in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. He died on January 20,

2005, from complications related to the heart attack.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-06 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200506.html).

•

January 9, 2005—0600hrs

Robert Dewey Martin, Firefighter

Age 26, Volunteer

Bostic Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina

On the evening of January 8, 2005, Firefighter Martin participated in a 2-hour 

EMS training session at the fire department. The training involved the movement 

of a 150-pound mannequin. Firefighter Martin did not complain of feeling ill 

during the training. When the session was completed, Firefighter Martin went 

home.

The next morning at approximately 0550hrs, Firefighter Martin’s wife was 

awakened by the sound of Firefighter Martin struggling to breathe. A neighbor 

called 9-1-1 and provided CPR to Firefighter Martin. Paramedics arrived and 

provided ALS-level care at the scene and in the ambulance while en route to the 

hospital. Despite their efforts, Firefighter Martin was pronounced dead at the 

hospital.

At autopsy, a heart valve problem was discovered—a problem which may have

been hereditary. Firefighter Martin did not suffer a heart attack.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-22 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200522.html).
49

•

January 11, 2005—1130hrs

Jerry Wayne Hopper, Forestry Technician

Age 61, Wildland Full-Time

Tennessee Department of Agriculture—Forestry Division

Forestry Technician Hopper was waiting for an apparatus to be repaired at the

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) facility outside of Jackson.

Forestry Technician Hopper was waiting in an office area with three other people. 

The husband of a TDOT employee who worked in the office entered the room, 

drew a 9-mm pistol, and fatally shot his wife. The shooter then turned his gun 

on Forestry Technician Hopper, who was the person closest to the first victim, 

and shot him multiple times. Two others in the office were also shot, and a man 

outside the building was shot and killed. 

The shooter left the facility and was captured later that day.

•

January 20, 2005—0730hrs

Scott Allen Thornton, Captain

Age 39, Career

Summit Township Fire Department, Michigan

Captain Thornton was in command of an engine company that was dispatched

with other units to a report of smoke in a garage. Upon their arrival, Captain

Thornton reported nothing showing. He made contact with the homeowner and

found that the garage was charged with smoke.

Firefighters, including Captain Thornton, advanced an attack line into the structure 

and began to search for the source of the smoke. After difficulty in finding the fire, 

Captain Thornton and another firefighter began to search the upper floor of the 

residence without a handline. Captain Thornton’s low-air alarm activated.

After firefighters had been on scene for approximately 20 minutes, fire conditions 

deteriorated rapidly and trapped Captain Thornton and the firefighter who had 

accompanied him. Captain Thornton ran out of air and buddy-breathed with the 

firefighter. A second attempt to buddy-breathe was unsuccessful, and Captain 

Thornton fell to the floor. The firefighter broke out a window, signaled distress, 

and went back to find Captain Thornton. The firefighter was unable to locate 

Captain Thornton, but was able to find his way out of the structure.

continued on next page
5

Approximately 20 minutes after his last radio transmission, Captain Thornton

was found by firefighters and removed from the structure. Despite efforts on the 

scene and at the hospital, Captain Thornton was pronounced dead as a result of

smoke inhalation.

Captain Thornton’s air supply was depleted; his PASS device did operate,

but the sound was muffled by the position of his body. The fire was caused 

by spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags that had been stored in the 

basement of the home.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-05 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200505.html).

•

January 20, 2005—0900hrs

Walter Matthew “Matt” Sarnoski, Firefighter

Age 19, Volunteer

Sandy Township Fire Department, Sabula Fire Station 39, DuBois, Pennsylvania

Firefighter Sarnoski and the members of his fire department were dispatched to 

a motor vehicle crash. Firefighter Sarnoski was operating his personal vehicle, a 

1996 Plymouth Breeze.

For reasons unknown, Firefighter Sarnoski’s vehicle left the right side of the 

roadway, traveled up a berm, returned to the roadway, crossed both lanes of

traffic, and collided with a command vehicle responding to the same incident. 

After the collision, Firefighter Sarnoski’s vehicle left the roadway and sustained 

extensive damage.

The drivers of both vehicles were wearing seatbelts. Firefighter Sarnoski was 

pronounced dead at the scene; the chief operating the command vehicle was

transported to the hospital, treated for a concussion, and released.

•

January 23, 2005—0252hrs

Michael D. Falkouski, Assistant Fire Chief

Age 59, Career

Rensselaer Fire Department, New York

Rensselaer Fire Department units were dispatched to a report of a structure

fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fully involved detached garage with a burn 

victim, and they requested a second alarm.
Assistant Chief Falkouski arrived on the scene in his personal vehicle and

collapsed immediately upon exiting the vehicle. Firefighters on the scene started 

CPR and applied an AED.

Assistant Chief Falkouski was treated by paramedics who arrived approximately

15 minutes after his collapse. His treatment was continued in the ambulance

en route to the hospital. Assistant Chief Falkouski was pronounced dead at the

hospital. The cause of death was a CVA.

January 23, 2005—0815hrs

•

Curtis W. Meyran, Lieutenant

Age 46, Career

Fire Department New York, New York

John Gerard Bellew, Firefighter

Age 37, Career

Fire Department New York, New York

Lieutenant Meyran and Firefighter Bellew were assigned to Ladder 27 in the 

Bronx. At 0758hrs, Ladder 27 was dispatched to a structure fire in an occupied 

multiple-family dwelling.

Upon their arrival, Ladder 27 was assigned to provide ventilation, entry, and

search services on the fourth floor of the building, above the fire. The fire 

progressed rapidly, and firefighters were trapped in an apartment that did not 

have a fire escape.

Six firefighters were forced to jump from the rear window into a depressed rear 

yard of the structure—in effect, a five-story fall. Two firefighters died and four 

firefighters received severe injuries. Blunt trauma injury was cited as the cause of 

death for both of the deceased firefighters.

A number of factors contributed to the deaths of the two firefighters. The building 

in which the fire occurred had been illegally converted into small apartments, 

making access and egress difficult. A frozen fire hydrant and the consequent loss 

of water supply to an attack line forced the movement of an attack line at the

same time that the fire was extending rapidly. Snow was falling at the time of the 

fire, delaying unit arrivals and making movement difficult. The cause of the fire 

was electrical: an overheated extension cord.

At the time of the fire, FDNY firefighters were not equipped with escape ropes. 

Subsequent to the fire, all FDNY firefighters were equipped with escape and 

descent devices.

Firefighter Bellew was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant.
•

January 23, 2005—1347hrs

Richard Thomas Sclafani, Firefighter

Age 37, Career

Fire Department New York, New York

Firefighter Sclafani was assigned to Ladder 103 in Brooklyn. At 1337hrs, Ladder 

103 and other fire department units were dispatched to a fire in a residence.

Firefighter Sclafani was a part of the Ladder’s inside team, assigned to perform a 

search of the basement using the interior stairs. Fire conditions changed rapidly

and Firefighter Sclafani became separated from other firefighters. He was unable 

to escape the basement.

Upon realizing that Firefighter Sclafani was missing, firefighters returned to the 

basement and removed him to the exterior. Firefighter Sclafani suffered thirddegree burns to 63 percent of his body. His blood carbon-monoxide level was 24 

percent. His cause of death was listed as smoke inhalation and burns.

The fire was caused when combustibles were placed in close proximity to an 

electric heater.

•

January 26, 2005—1200hrs

Donald Conner, Firefighter

Age 74, Volunteer

Brooken Volunteer Fire Department, Stigler, Oklahoma

Firefighter Conner was the only firefighter on the scene of a wildland fire. He 

was operating a 1-inch hoseline supplied by a brush truck. As he returned to the 

apparatus to reposition it, he became ill and collapsed.

Firefighters arriving on the scene witnessed the collapse and provided CPR. 

Firefighter Conner was transported to the hospital, where he later died. The 

cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

•

January 31, 2005—1430hrs

Walter Ray Minich, Driver

Age 63, Volunteer

Shermans Dale Community Fire Company, Pennsylvania
Driver Minich and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a 

medical emergency involving a child in respiratory arrest. Prior to the dispatch,

Driver Minich had been working on a motor home.

Other firefighters noticed that Driver Minich had not responded to the incident. 

Minich was found at home, keys in hand, apparently having become ill while

responding. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

•

February 5, 2005—0100hrs

William “Bill” Matt Goodin, Captain

Age 56, Volunteer

Mount Victory Fire Department, Somerset, Kentucky

Captain Goodin and other members of his fire department had just completed 

their response to a medical assistance call. Most members departed for home,

leaving Captain Goodin and the Fire Chief in the fire station.

Captain Goodin and the Chief left the fire station and Captain Goodin locked the 

door. He turned to the Chief and told him that he was not feeling well. Captain

Goodin attributed his illness to heartburn, took two steps, and fell straight

forward, striking his head on a vehicle bumper.

The Fire Chief called for assistance, and Captain Goodin was transported to the

hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital; the cause of death was a

heart attack.

•

February 6, 2005—1155hrs

Todd Raymond Smith, Firefighter

Age 31, Volunteer

New Paltz Fire Department, New York

Firefighter Smith and the members of his fire department were dispatched to the 

scene of a report of smoke in the basement of a residential structure. Firefighter 

Smith responded to the fire station and awaited the arrival of other firefighters to 

staff the apparatus.

A Chief Officer responded directly to the scene and found that there was no 

emergency. The Chief ordered all equipment to remain in-station and then to go 

back in service. Firefighter Smith left the station, and had begun to walk toward 

his vehicle when he experienced an unwitnessed collapse.

continued on next page
Approximately 36 minutes after the incident was concluded, a civilian driving

by the fire station noticed Firefighter Smith lying in the parking lot. Despite 

treatment provided at the scene, in the ambulance, and at the hospital,

Firefighter Smith died.

The medical examiner concluded that Firefighter Smith died due to drug 

intoxication, but did not rule out the possibility of a heart attack. Firefighter Smith 

had been prescribed pain medications for previous back injuries.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-24 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200524.html).

•

February 10, 2005—1420hrs

William Wade Pierce, Firefighter

Age 53, Volunteer

Ogdensburg Fire Department, New Jersey

Firefighter Pierce and members of his department responded to a mutual-aid gas 

explosion and fire in a manufactured home. The fire was caused when a propane 

delivery vehicle failed to properly disconnect the hose connection between

the vehicle and the storage tank that served the residence. Upon the arrival

of firefighters on scene, Firefighter Pierce started operating a handline while 

performing an exterior attack on the fire.

Firefighter Pierce began to feel unwell and went to his apparatus to request 

help from the apparatus operator. Firefighter Pierce was treated on the scene 

by EMT’s and paramedics, and then transported to the hospital. Despite these 

efforts, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of death was

listed as a heart attack.

•

February 12, 2005—1819hrs

Angelo Petta, Chief Engineer

Age 46, Volunteer

City of Garfield Fire Department, New Jersey

Chief Engineer Petta and the members of his department were dispatched to 

a report of a gas leak in a residence. Since his residence was a short distance

from the incident, Chief Engineer Petta responded to the scene in his personal 

vehicle.
Upon his arrival at the scene, Chief Engineer Petta entered the home and began 

to evacuate the residents. He was joined inside by the first-arriving command 

officer. Once the residence was evacuated, both firefighters left the residence 

to meet the other arriving firefighters. After stepping down from the porch in the 

front of the residence, Chief Engineer Petta suddenly collapsed.

Members of the fire and police departments provided immediate medical care, 

including the use of a defibrillator. Chief Engineer Petta was transported to the 

hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The cause of death was

a heart attack.

February 13, 2005—0325hrs

•

Mark Francis “Mac” McCormack, Captain

Age 36, Career

Santa Clara County Fire Department, California

Captain McCormack was in command of Engine 10. At 0220hrs, Engine 10 and 

other fire department units were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in a 

residence. The first-arriving fire department unit reported a working fire with 

smoke and flames visible from the roof, and with most of the second floor of the 

residence involved in fire. The first-arriving officer declared a defensive strategy 

for the fire attack.

When Engine 10 arrived on the scene, they were assigned to provide exposure 

protection to the rear of the involved structure. As the fire fight continued, a 

second alarm and a third were requested.

At approximately 0325hrs, Captain McCormack was walking around the structure,

and came into contact with a live 12kV electrical wire. The live wire was moved

away from Captain McCormack, and treatment was initiated. He was transported

to the hospital, and was pronounced dead at 0414hrs.

After an investigation of the incident, the California Division of Occupational

Safety and Health cited the Santa Clara County Fire Department for not having a

procedure to deal with live wires on the incident scene, for failing to erect barriers

around the hazard, and for failing to keep firefighters away from an energized 

electrical line.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to the Santa

Clara County Fire Department report on the incident. The report is available on

the fire department Web site at http://www.sccfd.org—follow the “McCormack 

Investigation Summary” link on the site.

•
February 13, 2005—0515hrs

Ray Rangel, Staff Sergeant

Age 29, Career

U.S. Air Force, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

Staff Sergeant Rangel was assigned to the Logistical Support Area Anaconda, 50

miles north of Baghdad, near Balad, Iraq.

Staff Sergeant Rangel and other firefighters were dispatched to an area west 

of Balad, where a Humvee and crew had entered a 50-foot-wide canal and 

overturned. Two soldiers were trapped inside.

Firefighters arrived by helicopter, and two firefighters immediately entered the 

cold water of the canal to attempt a rescue. Both firefighters were incapacitated 

by the cold water and began to drift downstream.

Staff Sergeant Rangel rushed down the embankment, wearing his ballistic vest. 

Soldiers watched as Staff Sergeant Rangel extended his hand to one of the

firefighters and then entered the water. Staff Sergeant Rangel was weighted 

down by the armor plates in his ballistic vest and drowned. His body was

recovered hours later, downstream.

•

February 15, 2005—1336hrs

Michael Lee Crawford, Lieutenant

Age 51, Career

Carroll County Fire Rescue, Georgia

Lieutenant Crawford was on duty at the fire station, and performed standard 

maintenance and administrative duties. At approximately 1315hrs, Lieutenant

Crawford drove the squad truck out of the fire station, intending to air-dry it after 

it had been washed. A short distance from the fire station, Lieutenant Crawford 

became incapacitated; the squad truck went off the road and down a 40-foot 

embankment.

Witnesses to the incident called 9-1-1, and firefighters were dispatched to the 

scene. Firefighters found Lieutenant Crawford in the driver’s seat, pulseless and 

not breathing. Lieutenant Crawford was removed from the squad and placed on a 

backboard. An AED was applied by firefighters, and shocks were delivered.

Paramedics arrived and continued care. Lieutenant Crawford was transported

by ambulance to a local hospital. He was later flown to a regional hospital for 

advanced cardiac care. Lieutenant Crawford died of complications related to his

heart attack on February 19, 2005.
continued on next page

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-10 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200510.html).

•

February 17, 2005—2339hrs

Michael Angelo Mercurio, Jr., Firefighter/EMT

Age 52, Paid-on-Call

Urbandale Fire Department, Iowa

Firefighter/EMT Mercurio responded to two emergency incidents on February 17. 

The first incident was an EMS call involving a patient transport to the hospital. 

The EMS incident was concluded at 2304hrs. At 2339hrs, Firefighter/EMT 

Mercurio and his engine company responded to a vehicle fire.

The fire had been knocked down by a civilian with a fire extinguisher. Firefighter/

EMT Mercurio, wearing full PPE, including SCBA, was responsible for opening the 

hood of the car to complete extinguishment. Due to damage from the fire, the 

process of opening the hood was complicated.

At the conclusion of the incident, firefighters returned to the station and placed 

their equipment back in service, and Firefighter/EMT Mercurio left the station 

to return home at approximately 0130hrs. He did not complain of any health

problems at the time of the incident.

When Firefighter/EMT Mercurio failed to show up for work the next afternoon, 

a fire department ambulance was sent to his residence for a check welfare 

call. Firefighters found Firefighter/EMT Mercurio face-down in his bed, obviously 

deceased. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

•

February 19, 2005—0601hrs

Grady Don Burke, Captain

Age 39, Career

Houston Fire Department, Texas

Captain Burke’s engine company and other fire department units were 

dispatched to a report of a structure fire in a residential occupancy. Captain 

Burke and his engine were the first fire department unit on scene, arriving 3 

minutes after dispatch. They found a working fire in a single-story residence.
Captain Burke and the members of his company stretched an attack line and

made entry into the front of the structure. Interior visibility was good in the front

area, but decreased as firefighters advanced toward the kitchen area at the rear. 

Movement inside the structure was complicated by debris left in the building by

vagrants.

Roof ventilation was not possible, due to fire conditions, and ladder company 

firefighters entered the interior of the structure. A second attack line was 

extended into the building.

At approximately 0610hrs, the roof of an addition at the rear of the structure

collapsed into the rear portion of the building. The collapse caused rapid fire 

progress in the interior and forced firefighters to exit the building quickly. A 

standard fireground evacuation signal was sounded. A PAR was completed, 

and a second alarm was ordered. A RIT was directed into the structure to assist

firefighters.

An electronic accountability system indicated that Captain Burke’s PASS device was

in alarm. The RIT began to search for him by following hoselines into the fire area.

Captain Burke was located at approximately 0629hrs, under 2 to 3 feet of debris. 

The cause of death was listed as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Captain

Burke’s blood carbon-monoxide level was 26 percent. The fire was caused by 

arson.

A report on this incident will be prepared by the Texas State Fire Marshal. The

report will be available at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire/fmloddinvesti.html

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-09 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200509.html).

•

February 21, 2005—1924hrs

Henry DeAngelo Hobbs, Jr., Senior Forest Ranger

Age 38, Wildland Full-Time

Florida Division of Forestry—Jacksonville Division, Florida

Senior Forest Ranger Hobbs reported for work at approximately 0800hrs. He and

another firefighter went to the sites of two previous wildland fires, and at each site 

performed overhaul and mop-up operations involving the use of handtools and 

hoselines. The firefighters returned to the station at approximately 1200hrs.
The afternoon hours were spent completing paperwork and doing physical fitness 

activities. Senior Forest Ranger Hobbs went off duty and drove to his residence

at approximately 1700hrs. Prior to his departure, he complained of indigestion.

After his arrival at home, Senior Forest Ranger Hobbs took over-the-counter 

medications for heartburn. He went outdoors and began to talk with his

neighbor. At approximately 1817hrs, Senior Forest Ranger Hobbs collapsed.

A paramedic ambulance arrived at 1831hrs and found Senior Forest Ranger

Hobbs unresponsive. He was transported to the hospital, with medical care

continuing during the transport. Senior Forest Ranger Hobbs was pronounced

dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. The cause of death was a heart attack.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-21 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200521.html).

•

February 22, 2005—2345hrs

Lonnie Wayne Nicklas, Fire Chief

Age 39, Volunteer

Shepherd Volunteer Fire Department, Texas

Chief Nicklas participated in training on the evening of February 22, 2005, and

complained of not feeling well before going home for the night. The next day he

worked his normal job and returned to the fire station after work. He checked 

equipment at the station and then went out for dinner with his wife. After 

completing other tasks, Chief Nicklas went to bed at approximately 2230hrs.

At about 2330hrs, Chief Nicklas’ wife awoke to find the Chief complaining 

of stomach pain and shoulder pain. She began to call 9-1-1, but the Chief 

insisted that she take him to the hospital. As they prepared to depart, the Chief

collapsed. EMS was called and arrived at the home. An AED was applied and 

shocks were administered.

Paramedics arrived and continued care throughout the transport to a local

hospital. After unsuccessful treatment at the hospital, Chief Nicklas was

pronounced dead. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-25 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200525.html).

•
60

February 27, 2005—0027hrs

Michael Alfred Aunkst, Firefighter

Age 45, Volunteer

Benedict Rural Fire Protection District, Nebraska

Firefighter Aunkst and members of his fire department were dispatched to 

provide mutual aid at a barn fire. Firefighter Aunkst responded to the fire station 

and drove a fire department tanker (tender) to the scene.

During the response, Firefighter Aunkst experienced abdominal discomfort and 

feelings of gas pressure. When he arrived on the scene, he drank a large quantity 

of water, and the pain changed to chest pain.

Firefighter Aunkst was treated at the scene and then transported by ambulance 

to a location where the ambulance was met by paramedics. The transport

continued to the hospital. As Firefighter Aunkst was being treated at the hospital, 

he went into cardiac arrest. Despite extensive efforts by emergency room staff,

Firefighter Aunkst was pronounced dead at 0227hrs. The cause of death was a 

heart attack.

•

March 3, 2005—1130hrs

Thomas Logan Mower, Fire Police Officer

Age 62, Volunteer

Goodwill Fire Company, Glenolden, Pennsylvania

Fire Police Officer Mower and the members of his fire department were 

dispatched to an automatic fire alarm in a home. As he proceeded to his 

vehicle to respond, Fire Police Officer Mower was struck with a heart attack, and 

collapsed by the side of his car.

EMS was summoned, and Fire Police Officer Mower was transported to the 

hospital. He was pronounced dead a short time later. The cause of death was

listed as sudden cardiac death.

•

March 9, 2005—1610hrs

James E. Mero, Jr., Fire Investigator

Age 51, Volunteer

Essex County Office of Emergency Services, Elizabethtown, New York

Fire Investigator Mero was on the scene of a fully involved residential structure

fire in his role as an Essex County deputy fire coordinator.
6

Fire Investigator Mero had taken some photographs of the scene as a part of his

investigative duties, and had then returned to his vehicle to retrieve additional

equipment. He suffered a heart attack while in his vehicle.

Firefighters and EMS workers on the scene provided care, and Fire Investigator 

Mero was transported to the hospital. Despite treatment provided on the scene,

in the ambulance, and at the hospital, Fire Investigator Mero died as a result of a

heart attack.

•

March 10, 2005—0843hrs

Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Buehne, Fire Chief

Age 64, Career

Affton Fire Protection District, Missouri

Chief Buehne was traveling to a meeting of fire officials in his fire department 

sedan, a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria.

As he drove, Chief Buehne’s vehicle was struck at a high rate of speed by the

vehicle of an individual fleeing law enforcement. The driver’s side of Chief 

Buehne’s vehicle received extensive damage, and the vehicle was overturned as

a result of the impact.

Firefighters arrived and engaged in a difficult extrication. Chief Buehne was 

removed from his vehicle and transported to the hospital, where he was

pronounced dead. The cause of death was multiple trauma. Chief Buehne was

wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

•

March 10, 2005—1354hrs

Charles Lynn Edgar, Fire Management Officer

Age 54, Wildland Full-Time

USDA Forest Service—Sabine National Forest, Texas

John Greeno, Heliport Base Manager

Age 51, Wildland Full-Time

USDA Forest Service—Stanislaus National Forest, California

José Victor Gonzales, Pilot

Age 45, Wildland Contract

Brainerd Helicopter Service Under Contract to the USDA Forest Service, 

Minnesota

continued on next page
62

Edgar, Greeno, and Gonzales were assigned aerial operations at a prescribed 

burn in the Sabine National Forest in Texas. The crew staffed a helicopter that

was assigned to drop plastic ignition spheres from a low altitude.

During the first flight of the day, the sphere ejection machine jammed and the 

helicopter returned to base. The machine was repaired, and the helicopter and

crew left to resume their mission.

Six minutes after their departure, a helicopter crew member reported that

sphere firing was beginning. Two minutes later, a distress call was received from 

the helicopter. The aircraft crashed into a heavily wooded area and all three

occupants were killed.

For additional information about this crash, consult the National Transportation

Safety Board Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp—NTSB 

identification DFW05FA086.

•

March 16, 2005—1215hrs

Andre Miguel “Mike” Ellis, Sergeant

Age 39, Volunteer

Dixie Suburban Fire Department, Louisville, Kentucky

Sergeant Ellis and another firefighter had constructed a search-and-rescue 

training activity in an acquired structure. In order to establish that the activity 

was ready, and to establish a completion timeline, Sergeant Ellis and the other 

firefighter completed the activity.

The training activity consisted of donning full structural firefighting protective 

clothing, including SCBA; running up four flights of stairs; performing a 50-yard 

hose pull; and negotiating a search-and-rescue maze. When the firefighters had 

completed the activity, they sat down to rest for approximately 5 minutes.

When the firefighters rose from their rest, Sergeant Ellis suddenly collapsed. 

The firefighter working with Sergeant Ellis summoned EMS personnel from the 

base next door to the training area. Sergeant Ellis was treated at the scene 

and transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital after

extensive medical efforts. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-32 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200532.html).

•
6

March 21, 2005—2021hrs

Allen Wayne Wright, Fire Chief

Age 51, Volunteer

Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, Alabama

Chief Wright and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a report 

of a vehicle crash. Chief Wright advised dispatch that he was responding from

his residence.

A short time later, the dispatch center received a call for a possible heart attack

at Chief Wright’s address. Chief Wright was found in his vehicle, unresponsive. 

He was transported to a local hospital, but did not survive. His death was

attributed to a heart attack.

•

March 26, 2005—0918hrs

Robert G. Brooks, Sr., Firefighter Trainee

Age 42, Volunteer

Montgomery Fire Department, New York

Firefighter Trainee Brooks was engaged in the final evolution of a Firefighter I 

course at the Orange County Fire Training Center. He was wearing full structural

protective clothing, including SCBA. He was assigned to do a 360 of the training

building, and prepare to go to the second floor and perform a search.

Firefighter Trainee Brooks completed the 360 and was about to attach his 

regulator to his facepiece when he suddenly collapsed. Instructors removed

his gear and found that he was unresponsive. While awaiting the arrival of an

ambulance, firefighters provided medical attention to Firefighter Trainee Brooks.

Firefighter Trainee Brooks was transported to the hospital and received further 

treatment. He died on March 28, 2005, as a result of a CVA.

•

March 29, 2005—1800hrs

Brandon Scott Phillips, Firefighter/Paramedic

Age 26, Career

Keller Fire Rescue, Texas

Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips went home after coming off duty from an overtime 

shift on March 29, 2005. During the shift, Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips ran 

three EMS calls that involved treatment and transportation of patients to the 

continued on next page
6

hospital by ambulance. Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips also engaged in physically 

demanding duties while at the fire station.

Upon arriving home, Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips began his normal 5-mile 

physical fitness run. As Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips jogged, he felt a pop in 

his chest and began to have severe back pain. He went to a hospital where he

was diagnosed as having an aortic dissection. He was transferred to a regional

hospital for advanced care. 

Firefighter/Paramedic Phillips underwent a 15.5-hour surgical operation to repair 

his heart. He did not recover from his surgery, and died on March 30, 2005.

•

April 2, 2005—1330hrs

Justin M. Wisniewski, Firefighter

Age 18, Volunteer

Southington Fire Department, Connecticut

Firefighter Wisniewski was participating in training at the Wolcott State Fire 

School. He was engaged in an exercise in which he was required to climb a 

ladder in full structural protective clothing and SCBA, dismount the ladder onto a

roof, and climb down a ladder to the ground on the other side of the building.

Upon his arrival on the roof, Firefighter Wisniewski asked permission from an 

instructor to disconnect his regulator, since he had run out of air. The instructor

gave him permission to disconnect and noted that Firefighter Wisniewski’s 

facepiece was fogged.

As Firefighter Wisniewski mounted the ladder to descend, his foot slipped and he 

fell head first to the ground, a distance of approximately 20 feet. The instructor 

attempted to grab onto Firefighter Wisniewski’s sleeve but his grip slipped. 

Firefighters provided immediate medical assistance and Firefighter Wisniewski 

was transported to the hospital. He died the next day as a result of his injuries.

•

April 2, 2005—2000hrs

William H. Poage, Jr., Firefighter

Age 51, Volunteer

Pintlala Volunteer Fire Department, Alabama

Firefighter Poage had just arrived at the scene of a rollover vehicle crash. He 

stepped out of his vehicle and collapsed of an apparent heart attack. Treatment

was provided at the scene and he was transported to the hospital. Despite all

efforts, he did not survive.
6

continued on next page

•

April 2, 2005—2045hrs

Phillip S. Young, Firefighter

Age 59, Volunteer

Robbins Hose Company No. 1, Dover Fire Department, Delaware

Firefighter Young had responded to multiple incidents on April 2, 2005. He 

remained in the fire station due to the approach of a storm. At approximately 

2045hrs, he was preparing to descend from the second to the first floor by fire 

pole when he slipped.

Firefighter Young fell 12 feet to the floor below and sustained serious leg 

injuries. The wound failed to heal in a timely manner, and Firefighter Young was 

discovered at home with CVA-like symptoms on August 20. He was transported to 

the hospital, where he was diagnosed as suffering from a CVA. He died on August

22, 2005.

Firefighter Young was an administrator at the Delaware State Fire School for over 

20 years, retiring in 2002.

•

April 11, 2005—1150hrs

James Michael Ratcliffe, Safety Officer

Age 62, Volunteer

Metuchen Fire Department, New Jersey

Safety Officer Ratcliffe served as a pallbearer and delivered the eulogy at the 

funeral for a former Fire Chief. As Safety Officer Ratcliffe drove a pumper in 

the funeral procession, he suffered a CVA. Safety Officer Ratcliffe died from 

complications associated with the CVA on May 3, 2005.

•

April 11, 2005—0851

Richard Allen Fast, Firefighter

Age 49, Volunteer

Midway Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia

Firefighter Fast was driving a rescue truck to a motor vehicle crash. As he drove, 

Firefighter Fast suffered a heart attack and slumped over the steering wheel 

of the vehicle. The apparatus came into contact with guardrails on a bridge

and stopped. Firefighters following in another vehicle stopped and provided 

assistance to Firefighter Fast.
66

An AED was applied, and paramedics arrived on the scene to continue care. 

Firefighter Fast was pronounced dead at the scene.

•

April 16, 2005—0200hrs

Dale A. Monica, Firefighter

Age 54, Volunteer

Burke Volunteer Fire Department, New York

A fire occurred in Firefighter Monica’s residence. Firefighter Monica responded to 

the fire station and then returned to his home with other firefighters. When they 

arrived at the scene, Firefighter Monica collapsed of a heart attack.

•

April 16, 2005—1030hrs

Sally Renée Clark, Firefighter

Age 49, Volunteer

Pleasant Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, Mississippi

Firefighter Clark was participating in pump operations training at a fire 

department fundraising event. She suddenly collapsed. Firefighters and EMS 

workers responded immediately and came to her aid.

An AED was applied and CPR was initiated. When paramedics arrived, she was 

transported to the hospital. She died as a result of the heart attack on April 18,

2005.

•

April 16, 2005—1536hrs

Justin Paul Faur, Firefighter

Age 23, Volunteer

Andover Volunteer Fire Department, Iowa

Firefighter Faur was employed at a farm where he found an unconscious coworker in a manure pit. Firefighter Faur initiated the 9-1-1 system and then 

entered the manure pit to attempt a rescue. Firefighter Faur was overcome by the 

atmosphere in the manure pit and collapsed before he could effect a rescue.

Responding firefighters from Firefighter Faur’s department arrived on the scene. 

They donned SCBA’s and entered the pit to remove both men. Firefighter Faur 

was transported to the hospital, where he died on April 30, 2005.

The cause of death was listed as brain injuries due to exposure to manure gases.
6

•

April 17, 2005—0907hrs

Alfred A. Wohrman, Firefighter

Age 60, Volunteer

Beekman Fire District, New York

Firefighter Wohrman was driving a fire department rescue truck to the scene of a 

motor vehicle crash. The response of his apparatus was cancelled when it was

determined that the incident lay outside his department’s jurisdiction.

He was returning to the station when, for some unknown reason, the apparatus

left the roadway and crashed into some trees. No brake or skid marks were

found. It is not known whether Firefighter Wohrman was wearing his seatbelt. 

Responding firefighters had to extricate Firefighter Wohrman from the apparatus. 

He was transported to the hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries. 

An autopsy was unable to determine whether an underlying medical condition

had contributed to the crash. The official cause of death was listed as blunt force 

trauma.

•

April 18, 2005—1522hrs

Jacob Earl Cook, Firefighter

Age 23, Volunteer

Evanston Fire Department, Wyoming

Robert Perjue Henderson, Assistant Lieutenant

Age 38, Volunteer

Evanston Fire Department, Wyoming

Members of the Evanston Fire Department were dispatched to a report of 

a structure fire in a three-level, end-unit townhouse. Lieutenant Henderson 

and Firefighter Cook were occupants of Engine 1, the first fire apparatus to 

arrive. Upon their arrival they reported smoke showing. Neighbors advised the

firefighters that children were trapped on the second floor of the residence.

A handline was pulled by another firefighter; Lieutenant Henderson and Firefighter 

Cook advanced the line into the structure after donning protective clothing and

SCBA. The firefighters advanced the hoseline to the second floor of the structure. 

Lieutenant Henderson appeared at the door and requested a thermal imaging 

camera. The camera was provided and Lieutenant Henderson returned to the

second floor.

continued on next page
6

A backup crew with a handline was entering the front door of the structure when

an explosion occurred. The explosion blew the backup firefighters away from 

the building and caused windows to be blown out. After the explosion, the fire 

progressed rapidly. The backup crew was unable to gain access to the second

floor. Another handline advanced from the rear entrance was able to knock down 

the fire sufficiently to allow access to the second floor. Approximately 15 minutes 

after the explosion, firefighters were able to remove Lieutenant Henderson and 

Firefighter Cook from the structure. Both men were dead.

The cause of death for both firefighters was listed as smoke inhalation and burns 

over 50 percent of their bodies.

The fire was burning in a concealed space. When a door was opened on the 

second floor, the fire extended with explosive force. The fire was electrical 

in nature, caused when storage boxes and floor planking were laid on top of 

electrical wires.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-13 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200513.html).

•

April 20, 2005—1101hrs

David Wayne O’Conner, Driver/Operator

Age 38, Career

Memphis Fire Department, Tennessee

Driver/Operator O’Conner and his engine crew responded to a fire alarm in a 

building. The alarm pull was determined to be false, and the engine was headed

back to quarters.

Driver/Operator O’Conner lost consciousness as the engine proceeded down the

street. The engine’s company officer was able to reach over the engine enclosure 

and activate the vehicle’s parking brake. The apparatus came to a stop on the

sidewalk.

Firefighters immediately removed Driver/Operator O’Conner from the driver’s 

seat and initiated treatment. An ambulance was summoned. Driver/Operator

O’Conner was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead as a

result of a CVA.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-17 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200517.html).
6

continued on next page

•

April 20, 2005—1850hrs

Brian Bruns, Pilot

Age 47, Wildland Contract

Aero Union Corporation, Chico, California

Paul Cockrell, Pilot

Age 52, Wildland Contract

Aero Union Corporation, Chico, California

Tom Lynch, Pilot

Age 41, Wildland Contract

Aero Union Corporation, Chico, California

Pilots Bruns, Cockrell, and Lynch were practicing water drops and undergoing

training/qualification flight checks on a Lockheed P-3B Orion airtanker. The pilots 

were on their 10th training run of the day, having just refilled the aircraft’s water 

tanks.

For an unknown reason, the aircraft crashed about 12 miles north of the Chico

Municipal Airport. No distress call was received from the aircraft. All three pilots

were killed in the crash or in the ensuing fire.

For additional information about this crash, consult the National Transportation

Safety Board Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp—NTSB 

identification SEA05MA085.

•

April 25, 2005—2204hrs

Christopher Brian Hunton, Firefighter

Age 27, Career

Amarillo Fire Department, Texas

The Amarillo Fire Department received a report of a house on fire at 2200hrs 

on March 23, 2005. Ladder 1, an American LaFrance quint, departed Amarillo 

Station 1 at 2201hrs en route to the fire. As Ladder 1 turned off South Van 

Buren Street onto East 3rd Avenue, the left rear passenger door on the apparatus 

opened.

Firefighter Hunton, who was preparing to don his breathing apparatus and who 

was not wearing a safety belt, fell from the apparatus, striking his head on the

street and sustaining severe head injuries. Firefighter Hunton was transported to 

a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Firefighter Hunton’s condition deteriorated, and he died of his injuries at 0953hrs 

on April 25, 2005. 

The latching mechanism for the door through which Firefighter Hunton fell was 

found to be malfunctioning.

The summary above is taken from a thorough report on this incident that was

prepared by the Texas State Fire Marshal. The report is available at http://www.

tdi.state.tx.us/fire/fmloddinvesti.html

•

May 7, 2005—1226hrs

Michael Thomas Childress, Assistant Fire Chief

Age 48, Career

Level Cross Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina

Assistant Chief Childress worked a 24-hour shift on May 6, 2005. During the 

shift, he performed normal fire station duties and responded to an EMS incident. 

In the morning, he was supposed to go to a nearby town for training. He decided

to remain at the fire station to provide coverage, and because he was not feeling 

well. Prior to the departure of other firefighters, Assistant Chief Childress helped 

with the loading of 5-inch hose into a pickup truck for the training session.

About 1000hrs, Assistant Chief Childress told the other firefighter on duty that he 

was going to lie down. He proceeded to the dorm area and went to bed. About

1215hrs, Assistant Chief Childress’s daughter stopped by the fire station and 

went to check on her father. She found him unresponsive. The other firefighter 

on duty checked and found that Chief Childress was pulseless and cool to the

touch.

An autopsy revealed that Assistant Chief Childress had suffered from severe

coronary artery disease.

•

May 14, 2005—2335hrs

Mark Mianulli, Firefighter

Age 51, Volunteer

Syosset Volunteer Fire Department, New York

The Syosset Fire Department was dispatched at 1649hrs for a vehicle crash

involving an overturned fuel truck. Firefighter Mianulli responded to the fire 

station, but arrived too late to board the engine that responded from the station. 
continued on next page

Firefighter Mianulli stood by at the station in case any other assistance was 

needed.

The incident involved a major spill of fuel and required mutual aid to control. 

Later in the evening, Firefighter Mianulli helped to load a large number of 50-

pound bags of speed dry into a pickup truck at the fire station. After the pickup 

departed for the incident scene, Firefighter Mianulli remained on standby.

The engine returned to the fire station at 2035hrs. Firefighter Mianulli left the fire 

station between 2100hrs and 2130hrs.

At 2211hrs, firefighters from a nearby fire district were dispatched to a videotape 

rental store in their district; Firefighter Mianulli had suffered a heart attack while 

in the store. Firefighter Mianulli was transported to a local hospital, where he 

was pronounced dead.

•

May 19, 2005—1700hrs

Karl Klifton “Kliff” Kramer IV, Firefighter Recruit

Age 22, Career

Jacksonville Fire-Rescue, Florida

Firefighter Recruit Kramer and his class spent the morning and early afternoon 

engaged in high-angle-rescue training exercises. At the conclusion of the 

high-angle training, the class began a 3-mile run for physical training. The 

temperature was reported to be 79 degrees.

Approximately 2.5 miles into the run, Firefighter Recruit Kramer collapsed. He 

was placed into a vehicle and driven by other firefighters back to the training 

facility. An ambulance was called, and Firefighter Recruit Kramer was taken to 

the hospital.

Firefighter Recruit Kramer was found to be suffering from heat stroke, with a 

temperature of 108 degrees. He was rapidly cooled and provided with other

advanced care. Despite aggressive treatment in the hospital, Firefighter Recruit 

Kramer died on May 28, 2005.

•

May 27, 2005—1337hrs

Frank Joseph Kucera, Lieutenant

Age 43, Career

Seminole County Fire Rescue, Florida
Lieutenant Kucera and the members of his crew participated in physically

demanding SCBA air consumption training. During the training, Lieutenant

Kucera told other firefighters that he was not feeling well. As the crew left the 

training area, Lieutenant Kucera directed his crew to drop him at a nearby fire 

station while the crew went for lunch.

After being dropped at the fire station, Lieutenant Kucera entered the fire 

station and called for help. Onduty firefighters brought Lieutenant Kucera to the 

day room area and an ambulance was called. Before the ambulance arrived,

Lieutenant Kucera received ALS-level care. He was loaded into the arriving 

ambulance and transported to the hospital. 

As the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Lieutenant Kucera went into full

cardiac arrest. The time elapsed from the request for the ambulance to arrival 

at the hospital was 15 minutes. Despite 32 minutes of life-saving efforts in the 

emergency room, Lieutenant Kucera was not revived.

Lieutenant Kucera was a survivor of an aggressive cancer. The cause of death

was cited as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with calcification-caused 

narrowing of the coronary arteries.

•

May 30, 2005—2205hrs

Robert Wayne Duff, Firefighter

Age 39, Volunteer

Kuttawa Fire Department, Kentucky

On May 30, 2005, at approximately 2205hrs, Firefighter Duff and his fire 

department were dispatched to a vehicle fire. He responded in his personal 

vehicle from his home. After he had responded approximately 8 miles, dispatch

cancelled the response. Firefighter Duff returned to his residence.

The next day, Firefighter Duff went to work as normal. After work, he went to 

his sister’s house. When he arrived at the house, he told family members that

he did not feel well. He asked his family members to call an ambulance. The

ambulance arrived and EMS workers started a line and placed Firefighter Duff on 

a heart monitor. While being treated, Firefighter Duff became unconscious.

Firefighter Duff was loaded into the ambulance and transported to a hospital. 

While en route to the hospital, Firefighter Duff went into cardiac arrest. Upon his 

arrival at the hospital, emergency room staff continued rescue efforts. Despite

their efforts, Firefighter Duff was pronounced dead at 1722hrs. The cause of 

death was listed as a heart attack.
•

May 31, 2005—1425hrs

Paul Albert Carr, Firefighter

Age 58, Career

Atlantic City Fire Department, New Jersey

Firefighter Carr was completing physical fitness training using a rowing machine 

while on duty in the fire station. At some point, he became unconscious. Another 

firefighter entered the room an undetermined amount of time after Firefighter 

Carr became unconscious. The firefighter noticed that Firefighter Carr was 

unconscious and called for help from other firefighters.

An AED was applied, CPR was started, and an ambulance was requested. 

Firefighters continued to treat Firefighter Carr until his care was taken over by the 

ambulance crew. Firefighter Carr was carried by firefighters to the ambulance and 

then transported to the hospital. Firefighter Carr was pronounced dead at the 

hospital 34 minutes after he was found unconscious. His death was caused by

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

•

June 3, 2005—1500hrs

Audie Lee Cross, Fire Crew Supervisor

Age 44, Wildland Full-Time

Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada

Fire Crew Supervisor Cross was managing a 12-person inmate conservation camp 

fire crew that was engaged in a conservation project. Fire Crew Supervisor Cross 

was operating an ATV. The ATV was involved in a rollover collision that resulted in

the death of Fire Crew Supervisor Cross; the ATV was traveling downhill when it

flipped over.

•

June 10, 2005—0044hrs

Bruce Sternberger, Firefighter

Age 56, Volunteer

Hardtner-Elwood Volunteer Fire Department, Kansas

Firefighter Sternberger and the members of his fire department fought a 260-acre 

fire in wheat fields. That night, a lightning strike occurred near his home, causing 

a power outage and starting a wildfire. Firefighter Sternberger called the fire 

department to report the fire and then went outside to begin fighting the fire.

continued on next page
Firefighters believe that Firefighter Sternberger left his home and almost 

immediately came into contact with an energized power line. After not hearing

from him for a while, Firefighter Sternberger’s wife called the fire department for 

assistance. Firefighter Sternberger’s body was discovered a short time later.

•

June 10, 2005—Time Unknown

Terry A. Kelver, Lieutenant

Age 48, Volunteer

Wales Center Volunteer Fire Company, New York

Several hours after responding to numerous weather-related calls, Lieutenant 

Kelver was found collapsed in his place of employment.

•

June 13, 2005—0100hrs

James J. O’Neil, Firefighter

Age 54, Volunteer

Hempstead Fire Department, New York

Firefighter O’Neil responded to four fire alarms in the 24 hours prior to his death. 

The last incident was a car fire in a parking garage, reported at 0058hrs. At 

this incident, Firefighter O’Neil drove the pumper to the scene, assisted with 

stretching of an attack line through a window from the top of the apparatus, and

then placed the apparatus back in service once the fire was controlled.

At the conclusion of the car fire incident, Firefighter O’Neill mentioned to other 

firefighters that he was experiencing chest discomfort, but dismissed it as 

insignificant.

At 0714hrs, an ambulance was requested to respond to Firefighter O’Neil’s 

residence. Firefighter O’Neil had suffered a severe heart attack. CPR was begun 

and he was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he was pronounced

dead.

•

June 14, 2005—2300hrs

Peter Bruce Lund, Lieutenant

Age 54, Volunteer

Woodmere Fire Department, New York
continued on next page

Lieutenant Lund responded as the officer on his fire department’s heavy rescue 

to a working fire in a residence. Lieutenant Lund participated in a search of the 

structure and opened up to allow engine company firefighters access to the fire in 

the attic. After the fire suppression operations were completed, Lieutenant Lund 

left the structure where the fire had occurred and sat down on a curb to rest. A 

firefighter walking by Lieutenant Lund asked him if he was feeling well. Seconds 

later, Lieutenant Lund lost consciousness and was found to be pulseless and not

breathing.

Emergency medical aid was summoned, CPR was immediately started, and an 

AED was applied as ALS equipment was readied. These interventions were not 

successful, and Lieutenant Lund was loaded into an ambulance and transported

to a hospital. Despite these efforts, Lieutenant Lund was pronounced dead at

the hospital. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

Lieutenant Lund had recently retired from a distinguished career as a rescue

company officer with the Fire Department of New York.

•

June 21, 2005—1330hrs

Keith David Allred, Fire Chief

Age 52, Volunteer

Juab Special Service Fire District—Granite Station of the West Desert Fire 

Department, Utah

Chief Allred was driving a fire department tanker (tender) to a safety inspection. 

The apparatus was a military surplus Army deuce-and-a-half. While he was 

driving on a dirt road at a speed estimated at 40 miles per hour, the left front

tire blew out. The vehicle crossed over to the left side of the roadway, entered a

ditch, and rolled over multiple times. Chief Allred was ejected in the course of the

crash; he was apparently not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

A passerby came upon the crash scene and summoned help. Chief Allred was

dead when law enforcement and EMS responders arrived. 

•

June 21, 2005—1445hrs

Kenneth Ray Gailley, Firefighter/EMT

Age 45, Volunteer

Locust Community Volunteer Fire Department, Texas
Firefighter/EMT Gailley came upon a motor vehicle crash while driving a truck 

for his employer. He was the first emergency responder on the scene, and 

provided aid and treatment for the drivers involved in the crash. Upon the arrival

of the Sherman Fire Department and the completion of the incident, Command

released Firefighter/EMT Gailley to return to work.

The Locust Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Sherman Fire

Department have a written mutual-aid agreement, and the Locust Community 

Volunteer Fire Department has a department policy for all EMT personnel to stop 

and render aid at any crash scene that they happen upon.

Ten minutes after departing the crash scene, Firefighter/EMT Gailley began to 

experience severe chest pains, and radioed ahead for EMS to respond to his 

place of employment. When he arrived at his place of employment about 2

minutes later, he went into cardiac arrest. He was treated by EMS personnel and 

transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1725hrs.

•

June 22, 2005—1745hrs

William McAnally, Firefighter

Age 64, Volunteer

Ossining Fire Department, New York

Firefighter McAnally died suddenly while marching in a fire department parade. 

His death was caused by a heart attack.

•

June 23, 2005—1424hrs

Joseph William “Pete” Buckel, Fire Chief

Age 67, Volunteer

Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department, Maryland

Chief Buckel was responding from his residence to a 9-1-1 call. As he proceeded 

to his vehicle to begin his response, he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. 

His department was called to respond to his residence, but he could not be

revived.

•

June 24, 2005—0245hrs

Valeree Sue Claude, Firefighter/EMT

Age 33, Career

Pinetop Fire Department, Arizona
continued on next page

Firefighter/EMT Claude responded to two incidents during the daylight portion 

of her shift. After dinner, she went to her bunkroom. At 0205hrs, her crew was

dispatched to an incident but she did not respond. A crew member went to her

bunkroom to check on her and found her to be unresponsive. EMS treatment 

was begun, and continued until her death was confirmed by paramedics. 

According to the medical examiner, Firefighter/EMT Claude died of an overdose of 

oxycodone, and other medical conditions.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-20 (http://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200520.html).

•

June 28, 2005—1300hrs

John R. Husser, Ex-Captain

Age 55, Volunteer

Rockville Centre Fire Department, New York

Ex-Captain Husser responded to three emergency calls with his fire department 

on June 27, 2005. The calls included a structure fire response and two motor 

vehicle crashes. The last incident occurred at 1826hrs.

At 1300hrs on the following day, Ex-Captain Husser was found deceased in 

his residence, wearing the same clothes that he had worn to his emergency

responses the previous day. The television in the room was tuned to the same

channel that he had been seen watching at 2300hrs the previous evening. 

During the responses the previous day, Ex-Captain Husser had not expressed any 

health concerns to other firefighters. His death was caused by a heart attack.

•

June 28, 2005—2231hrs

Gary Wayne Jolley, Firefighter

Age 52, Volunteer

Mount Carmel Volunteer Fire Department, Kentucky

Firefighter Jolley and the members of his fire department responded to a report 

of a lightning strike on a residence. Firefighter Jolley responded directly to 

the scene in his personal vehicle. Firefighters thoroughly checked the home, 

including the attic, and found no evidence of fire. They advised the home owner 

to have the electrical system checked, and then left the scene to return to the fire 

station.
As Firefighter Jolley drove his personal vehicle to the fire station, he became 

ill and pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road. A report of a person

slumped over the steering wheel of a car brought the response of firefighters, law 

enforcement, and ambulance personnel.

Firefighters pulled Firefighter Jolley from his vehicle and initiated CPR. An AED 

was applied and arriving paramedics took over care. Firefighter Jolley was 

transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

•

July 7, 2005—0135hrs

Thomas Allen Hurlbert, Jr., Fire Apparatus Operator

Age 54, Career

Rockdale County Fire Department, Georgia

Fire Apparatus Operator Hurlbert and the members of his engine company

responded to a report of a tree fallen in the road as the result of storm activity. 

The shift had been especially busy, with 12 responses by Hurlbert’s engine

company. The crew removed the tree from the road. Fire Apparatus Operator

Hurlbert returned to the engine and removed his protective clothing.

As Fire Apparatus Operator Hurlbert was pulling the engine away from the scene,

his company officer heard him make an unusual noise. The company officer 

looked over and saw Fire Apparatus Operator Hurlbert lying doubled over in his

seat. The officer was able to bring the apparatus to a stop by pulling the air 

brake.

Firefighters removed Fire Apparatus Operator Hurlbert from the vehicle. He 

stopped breathing, and no pulse could be located. Firefighters started CPR and 

applied an AED. He was transported to the hospital, where he died.

The cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

•

July 10, 2005—0130hrs

Joseph Harold Evans, Firefighter

Age 61, Volunteer

Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company, Delaware

Firefighter Evans and members of his fire department responded to a report of a 

fire alarm activation. Firefighter Evans was the driver of an engine company that 

responded to the incident.
continued on next page

After his arrival on the scene, Firefighter Evans collapsed from a heart attack. 

Other firefighters came to his aid immediately, and he was transported to a 

hospital, where Firefighter Evans was pronounced dead. 

•

July 14, 2005—0042hrs

Todd Alan Blanchard, Firefighter

Age 31, Career

Eastern Wake Fire-Rescue, North Carolina

Firefighter Blanchard and his engine company responded to a report of a brush 

fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene and found a fire in a large hollow oak 

tree, which had been the subject of a previous response. The Fire Chief sent a

second engine with a large water tank to the scene to assist. When the second

engine arrived, the crew used the deck gun on the pumper to apply water from

a distance. They used the 1,000 gallons of water that was onboard the pumper,

but failed to extinguish the fire completely.

Four firefighters approached the tree to assess the impact of the water 

application. Two of the firefighters returned to the apparatus and two firefighters, 

including Firefighter Blanchard, remained near the tree. Firefighters near the 

apparatus heard cracking sounds and turned to see a large tree limb falling from

the tree.

Firefighter Blanchard was struck by the tree limb, whose diameter was reported 

to be 24 inches. Firefighters rushed to his location and got him out from under 

the limb. Medical treatment was initiated and an ambulance was requested. 

Firefighter Blanchard was transported to the hospital, but did not survive his 

injuries.

•

July 17, 2005—1700hrs

Donald Eugene “Dan” DeVries, Firefighter

Age 59, Volunteer

Belvidere Fire Department, South Dakota

A fire began in a hay bailer located on Firefighter DeVries’ property. Firefighter 

DeVries reported the fire to the fire department, and began to fight a brush fire 

that extended from the fire in the hay bailer.
When the fire department arrived, the brush fire was mostly extinguished, 

with the only remaining fire being that in the bailer. The fire in the bailer was 

extinguished, and firefighters who had responded to the incident began to talk 

with Firefighter DeVries about the incident. He suddenly collapsed.

Firefighters started CPR and an ambulance was requested. Firefighter DeVries 

did not survive the heart attack; he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

•

July 18, 2005—Time Unknown

Gerald Michael Martinez, Forestry Technician/SEAT Manager

Age 53, Wildland Full-Time

USDA Forest Service—Custer National Forest, South Dakota

Forestry Technician Martinez was on assignment to a fire in Cortez, Colorado, as a 

Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) Manager. He had been assigned to these duties 

since July 7, 2005. He performed his duties from 0830hrs through 2100hrs on

July 17, 2005.

Forestry Technician Martinez was discovered dead by hotel room cleaners on the

morning of July 18, 2005; he had died overnight. The cause of death was listed

as a heart attack.

•

August 2, 2005—1800hrs

William Bostian, Fire Police Lieutenant

Age 62, Volunteer

West Webster Fire Department, New York

Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian had responded to four emergency calls throughout

the day. After the conclusion of the last incident, Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian

returned to the fire station to prepare for a fire department meeting that night 

(Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian was the acting president of his fire company).

At approximately 1800hrs, Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian asked a fire department 

paramedic to check his blood pressure. The paramedic noted that Fire Police

Lieutenant Bostian’s blood pressure was high and that his pulse was erratic; the

paramedic arranged for Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian to be transported to the

hospital.

At approximately 2115hrs, Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian went into cardiac arrest

at the hospital. He was transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, and a

pacemaker was implanted on August 5. 
continued on next page

Fire Police Lieutenant Bostian was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital,

but he suffered another heart attack and died while in the hospital.

•

August 6, 2005—1539hrs

Christopher Matthew Kanton, Firefighter

Age 23, Career

California Department of Forestry/Riverside County Fire Department, California

Firefighter Kanton and his engine company were responding to a storm-related 

flooding emergency. Firefighter Kanton was riding in the rear jumpseat area of 

the engine.

The engine lost traction on a major freeway and left the roadway. The

apparatus crossed several lanes of traffic, spun approximately 180 degrees, slid 

approximately 40 feet down an embankment, and hit trees. Firefighter Kanton 

was ejected and received major traumatic injuries when the apparatus rolled over

him. The driver of the engine was also ejected. The crash occurred during severe

weather and downpours of rain.

Firefighter Kanton and the driver of the apparatus were not wearing their seatbelts. 

The firefighter riding in the right front seat was wearing his seatbelt. The driver and 

the firefighter who was not ejected received minor to moderate injuries.

•

August 11, 2005—2105hrs

Edwin H. Berg, Fire Chief

Age 68, Volunteer

North Prairie Fire Department, Wisconsin

Chief Berg was attending a meeting of the village board representing the fire 

department. Chief Berg experienced a coughing attack, spat up blood, and

collapsed.

Chief Berg was fighting lung and liver cancer. His death was caused by a 

pulmonary embolism.

•

August 14, 2005—Time Unknown

Rodney N. English, Sergeant

Age 48, Career

Detroit Fire Department, Michigan
Sergeant English became ill while on duty in the fire station, performing 

administrative duties. He was treated by fellow firefighters and transported to the 

hospital. His death was caused by a heart attack.

•

August 16, 2005—1115hrs

Nicholas Lee Yuselew, Captain

Age 47, Paid-on-Call

Pueblo of Zuni Fire/EMS Department, New Mexico

Captain Yuselew returned from a physical fitness activity and suffered a cardiac arrest.

•

August 17, 2005—2047hrs

Joseph F. Walsh, Fire Police Officer

Age 76, Volunteer

Keansburg Fire Department, New Jersey

Fire Police Officer Walsh was directing traffic at a minor hazardous materials 

incident at the Keansburg High School. He was standing at the entrance and

assisting drivers in getting cars out of the parking lot. As Fire Police Officer Walsh 

performed his duties, he was struck by a car driven by an intoxicated driver. He

received serious head and leg injuries. (The car left the scene after hitting Fire

Police Officer Walsh.)

Fire Police Officer Walsh was wearing a reflective vest and was using a flashlight 

at the time he was struck.

Fire Police Officer Walsh was treated at the scene and flown by medical helicopter 

to a regional hospital. His care continued at the hospital, but he was pronounced

dead at 0205hrs on August 18, 2005.

A 26-year-old woman was charged with driving while intoxicated, striking Fire 

Police Officer Walsh, and other charges. The blood-alcohol level of the intoxicated 

driver when she was tested was three times the legal limit. The woman eventually

pleaded guilty to charges and accepted a 12-year sentence in State prison.

•

August 18, 2005—0551hrs

David W. Stautamoyer, Assistant Fire Chief

Age 57, Volunteer

Modoc Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana
continued on next page

Assistant Chief Stautamoyer and members of his department participated in a

work detail at the fire station on the evening of August 17, 2005. Approximately 

seven firefighters and officers moved equipment from a tanker (tender) that was 

going out of service for the addition of a dump valve, and also reloaded hose onto

pumpers that had been used at a structure fire earlier. The work detail lasted 

approximately 1.75 hours and was completed at approximately 2015hrs.

The next morning, Assistant Chief Stautamoyer collapsed in his home as the

result of a heart attack. Firefighters and EMS responders responded and treated 

him in his home, and in the ambulance during transport. The ambulance was

met by paramedics while en route to the hospital. Assistant Chief Stautamoyer

was pronounced dead in the hospital emergency room.

•

August 25, 2005—0600hrs

Daniel Raymond Angert, Fire Police Officer

Age 44, Volunteer

Petrolia Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania

On August 24, 2005, Fire Police Officer Angert and the members of his fire 

department responded to a structural fire. Fire Police Officer Angert blocked an 

approach to the fire scene and controlled traffic. The traffic pattern in front of the 

fire-involved structure was one-way in order to facilitate a tanker shuttle.

At approximately 1300hrs, Fire Police Officer Angert notified the fire police 

commander that he had been run over by a car. Fire Police Officer Angert had 

momentarily turned away from traffic. When he looked back, a car was upon him, 

and it ran over Fire Police Officer Angert’s foot and ankle. He was also suffering 

from chest pains.

Fire Police Officer Angert was transported to the hospital to have his injury 

evaluated. He was released from the hospital later in the day, and told to stay off

his foot and to see his personal physician.

The following morning, an ambulance was called to Fire Police Officer Angert’s 

home. He had suffered a heart attack. Bystander CPR was in progress when

responders arrived. Fire Police Officer Angert was transported to the hospital, but 

did not survive.

•

August 27, 2005—2145hrs

Michael A. Switala, Firefighter

Age 50, Volunteer

Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Department, Pennsylvania
Firefighter Switala was enrolled in a dive rescue training class offered by a local 

SCUBA enterprise. The class had two sessions, one in daylight and the other at

night. Firefighter Switala successfully completed the daylight portion and had 

completed all of the structured exercises for the night portion of the class.

At the completion of the dive exercise, Firefighter Switala’s dive partner signaled 

that he was ready to surface. Firefighter Switala acknowledged the signal and 

the dive partner surfaced. Once on the surface, the dive partner could not locate

Firefighter Switala. The partner looked back under water and saw that Firefighter 

Switala was in distress. The partner descended to Firefighter Switala and 

attempted to place Firefighter Switala’s regulator back into his mouth, to no avail. 

The partner attempted to place an emergency air supply in Firefighter Switala’s 

mouth, again to no avail. 

The partner then brought Firefighter Switala to the surface, called for help, and 

brought Firefighter Switala to shore. Once he was on shore, medical care was 

provided by a physician, a registered nurse, and an EMT. Firefighter Switala 

was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, and was then transferred to a

regional hospital. Firefighter Switala died on August 28, 2005.

An examination of Firefighter Switala’s dive gear found that he had not exhausted 

his air supply. The cause of death was listed as drowning.

•

September 2, 2005—2300hrs

Robert Allen Bestgen, Firefighter

Age 51, Volunteer

Osborn Fire Protection District, Missouri

Osborn firefighters routinely provided standby coverage at each race held at the 

U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn. Firefighter Bestgen was participating in a standby on 

September 2, 2005.

During a race, a crash occurred on the track. Race cars blocked the entrance of

a push vehicle onto the track. The driver of the push vehicle parked the truck and

asked a car driver to move his vehicle to provide access to the track. The driver,

not realizing the location of the push truck, backed up quickly and hit the front 

of the push truck. The collision pushed the truck backwards toward a crowd of

spectators.

Firefighter Bestgen, seeing the movement of the truck and the proximity of 

spectators, attempted to enter the push truck and bring it to a stop. The left front

wheel of the truck ran over Firefighter Bestgen’s foot and dragged him under the 
truck. The truck crashed into a concrete barrier, went airborne, and landed on

top of Firefighter Bestgen.

A tow truck was used to lift the vehicle off Firefighter Bestgen. He was 

transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he died of chest and other

internal injuries at 0134hrs on September 3, 2005.

•

September 4, 2005—1713hrs

Henry James Combs, Fire Chief

Age 46, Volunteer

Watts Volunteer Fire Department, Kentucky

Chief Combs and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a report 

of a structure fire in a residence. Chief Combs was responding with lights and 

siren to the scene in his personal vehicle, a 2002 Toyota Tacoma.

As the vehicle entered a left-hand turn, Chief Combs lost control and the vehicle 

started to go off the right-hand side of the road. Chief Combs steered to the left, 

causing the vehicle to skid out of control and overturn.

Local residents came upon the crash and found Chief Combs’ vehicle on its roof. 

Thinking that Chief Combs was trapped under the vehicle, the residents pushed

the vehicle back on its wheels. After the vehicle was turned over, the local

residents discovered that Chief Combs was still in his vehicle, wearing his seatbelt. Chief Combs was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced

dead.

The cause of death was listed as positional asphyxiation, as a result of the

upside-down position of his vehicle after the crash.

•

September 5, 2005—0130hrs

Marvin Jackson, Fire Chief

Age Unknown, Volunteer

Wilmar Fire Department, Arkansas

Chief Jackson and the members of his fire department responded to the scene 

of a vehicle fire. Upon their arrival, firefighters found a fully involved car. Chief 

Jackson operated the pump and other firefighters attacked the fire.

As the fire was being controlled, firefighters heard yelling and looked over to see 

civilians running toward the fire truck. Firefighters found Chief Jackson lying on 

the sidewalk. They found that he had shallow respirations and a weak pulse.

continued on next page
Shortly thereafter, Chief Jackson stopped breathing, and CPR was started. Chief

Jackson was then transported to the hospital, where he died. The cause of death

was a heart attack.

•

September 11, 2005—2006hrs

Robert Lee Pauley, Firefighter

Age 55, Volunteer

Lookout Volunteer Fire Department, California

Firefighter Pauley was responding in his personal vehicle to a motor vehicle crash. 

As he responded, he lost control of his vehicle and struck a telephone pole. 

Firefighter Pauley was ejected and thrown 50 feet from the vehicle. After the 

collision, the vehicle caught fire and became fully involved.

The crash was reported by a passing vehicle. Firefighters responded, 

extinguished the fire, and found Firefighter Pauley’s body.

•

September 16, 2005—0530hrs

James Edward Scott, Assistant Chief

Age 58, Volunteer

Hamilton Volunteer Fire and EMS, Inc., North Carolina

On September 15, 2005, Assistant Chief Scott and members of his fire 

department responded to a report of a smell of smoke in a residence. 

Firefighters found no emergency, and all units went back into service. The 

incident was concluded at 1717hrs.

As Assistant Chief Scott was driving to work the next day, he complained to his

passenger of having experienced chest pain the night before, and then slumped

forward onto the steering wheel of his vehicle. The passenger was able to stop

the vehicle safely. Assistant Chief Scott was found to be without respirations or a

pulse.

EMS was called, and CPR was initiated. Assistant Chief Scott was transported to 

the hospital, where he was treated, without response. He was pronounced dead

at 0705hrs.

•
September 21, 2005—1600hrs

Edwin E. King, Fire Chief

Age 55, Volunteer

Reno County Fire District Number 7, Kansas

Chief King was driving a brush truck in response to a controlled burn that had

become uncontained. Conditions were smoky and the dirt road that Chief King

was driving on was only 20 feet wide.

Chief King’s brush truck collided head-on with his department’s tanker (tender) 

as it responded to the same incident. Chief King was pronounced dead at the

scene; the driver of the tanker was not injured.

•

September 22, 2005—2034hrs

Paul A. Belmarez, Captain

Age 45, Career

South Bend Fire Department, Indiana

Captain Belmarez worked his regular shift from 0700hrs on September 21, 2005,

through 0700hrs on September 22, 2005. During the shift, Captain Belmarez

and his crew worked to get a broken fire hydrant to close, and performed other 

routine station duties. Captain Belmarez also conducted training by donning and

doffing SCBA’s, and walked on the treadmill.

Captain Belmarez complained to other firefighters of not feeling well. He 

complained of his stomach being upset and did not eat.

At 2034hrs, South Bend Fire Department units were dispatched to Captain

Belmarez’s home for a report of a subject having difficulty breathing. Captain 

Belmarez was suffering from a heart attack. He was treated by paramedics at

the scene and then transported to the hospital, where he died.

•

October 4, 2005—2209hrs

Peter E. Hotaling, Sr., Fire Police Captain

Age 57, Volunteer

Claverack Fire District—A.B. Shaw Fire Company, New York

Fire Police Captain Hotaling participated in his fire department’s weekly 

maintenance and training detail. During the detail, he told the Fire Chief that he

did not feel well and went home.

continued on next page
Three hours after leaving the detail, Fire Police Captain Hotaling suffered a fatal

heart attack.

•

October 23, 2005—1230hrs

Paul Herbert Thorne, Sr., Firefighter

Age 71, Volunteer

Forestville Volunteer Fire Department, Maryland

Firefighter Thorne suffered from a CVA while helping to unload supplies at the fire 

station. He died 2 days later as a result of his illness.

•

October 23, 2005—1245hrs

Robert Gerald Gallardy, Captain

Age 47, Career

Altoona Fire Department, Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy was conducting a Field Instructor

Development Class, which includes 2 days of live-fire training. The class was 

completing the final burn on Sunday, October 23, 2005.

Captain Gallardy, serving as an instructor, was assigned to start the basement

fire. He had checked the fire, and then went to the first floor to see whether the 

students and their instructor were ready to enter the basement. The instructor

stated that they were ready. Captain Gallardy re-entered the basement 

via the interior stairs to add two skids to the fire. The students, with their 

instructor, entered the basement. They moved to the doorway of the burn room,

extinguished the fire, and then vented the smoke and heat out through the 

exterior stairway. Upon returning to the burn room, they found Captain Gallardy

inside the burn room. They radioed a Mayday and called for an RlT to respond

to the exterior stairs. The student instructors removed Captain Gallardy to the

stairs, and the RIT then moved him to the street.

The ALS ambulance, assigned to the training grounds during the class, and a

paramedic instructor met the RIT as they exited the building. Captain Gallardy

was treated and transported to Lewistown Hospital. The paramedic on scene

requested a helicopter to meet the ambulance at the hospital to provide 

transportation to a burn facility. Captain Gallardy was flown to Lehigh Valley 

Hospital burn unit. He had received burns on 85 percent of his body and to his

respiratory system.
Captain Gallardy was pronounced dead on Tuesday October 25, 2005 at

1107hrs. The cause of his collapse is unknown; the autopsy did not reveal any

underlying health conditions that might have led to a collapse.

•

October 24, 2005—2020hrs

Wendell Anthony Jeffery, Lieutenant

Age 47, Career

Memphis Fire Department, Tennessee

Lieutenant Jeffery was on duty in the fire station day room when he began to have 

a seizure. An ambulance was called, and Lieutenant Jeffery received treatment

from other onduty firefighters.

In a short time, Lieutenant Jeffery went into cardiac arrest. He was transported

to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 2120hrs, with the cause of death

listed as a heart attack. Lieutenant Jeffery and his crew had responded to four

calls during the shift before he became ill. 

•

October 25, 2005—1425hrs

Franklin W. Eubanks, Firefighter

Age 47, Volunteer

Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Mississippi

Firefighter Eubanks and the members of his department had just completed 

extinguishing a small wildland fire when Firefighter Eubanks suddenly collapsed 

from what was apparently a heart attack.

Firefighter Eubanks was transported by helicopter to a hospital, but he did not 

survive.

•

October 26, 2005—1030hrs

Walter Leo Sykes, Jr., Firefighter

Age 48, Volunteer

Lewiston Volunteer Fire Department, California

Firefighter Sykes and members of his fire department responded to a structure 

fire in a historic home in their community. Firefighter Sykes responded on a 

pumper with another firefighter.

continued on next page
When they arrived on the scene, Firefighter Sykes walked to the fire building and 

started to feel ill. He stood near the front fence and told another firefighter that 

he felt tired. Firefighter Sykes was directed to the back of a pumper to rest. A 

firefighter noticed that he did not look well, and placed him in a car to bring him 

to an ambulance on the scene.

Firefighter Sykes was placed on oxygen, but his condition deteriorated. The EMS 

crew called for a helicopter, but none was available because of bad weather. 

Firefighter Sykes was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he died of 

a heart attack.

•

November 4, 2005—1019hrs

E. Timothy Parsell, Captain

Age 39, Volunteer

Collins Volunteer Fire Department #1, New York

Captain Parsell was at home when his fire department was dispatched to a 

medical emergency. As he walked through his home, preparing to leave for the

dispatch, Captain Parsell became lightheaded and fell to the floor.

Captain Parsell’s wife called 9-1-1 and reported the incident. Captain Parsell 

was suffering from chest pains and was having difficulty breathing. While being 

transported by ambulance to the hospital, Captain Parsell went into cardiac

arrest. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, with death caused by a

pulmonary embolism.

•

November 5, 2005—1753hrs

Eduardo B. “Ed” Teran, Firefighter

Age 43, Career

City of Riverside Fire Department, California

Firefighter Teran and other firefighters were fighting a fire in a vacant residential 

structure. Firefighter Teran had left the interior of the structure to change his 

SCBA cylinder when he collapsed of an apparent heart attack.

Firefighters on the scene provided care, and Firefighter Teran was transported 

to the hospital, but he did not survive the heart attack. The fire was caused by 

arson.

•
continued on next page

November 5, 2005—1130hrs

James C. “Jimmy” Webb, Assistant Chief

Age 41, Volunteer

Bynum Volunteer Fire Department, Mississippi

Assistant Chief Webb was driving a fire department tanker (tender) to a structure 

fire. He lost control of the apparatus and it overturned in a ditch. Chief Webb 

was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and died of traumatic injuries.

•

November 6, 2005—2230hrs

Brian J. Pugh, Fire Chief

Age 53, Career

Port of Portland Airport Fire Rescue, Oregon

Chief Pugh was attending a fire service management conference in Dallas, Texas, 

when he suffered a CVA; he died 2 days later.

•

November 7, 2005—1332hrs

Timmy Shane Hardy, Engineer

Age 32, Career

Neosho Fire Department, Missouri

Engineer Hardy and members of his fire department were dispatched to a report 

of a fire in a mill. Upon the arrival of firefighters, mill workers explained that they 

were dealing with a fire in a large bin that contained wheat hulls. The wheat hull 

bin was one of five in a 100-foot tall silo; the only access to the top of the silo was 

by means of a man lift.

In order to assess the status of the fire, two firefighters were assigned to ride 

the man lift to the top of the silo. Mill employees provided firefighters with 

information on the operation of the man lift. Engineer Hardy was the first to 

ascend, wearing full structural firefighting protective clothing.

Near the top of the silo, Engineer Hardy became wedged in the confined space 

between the man lift and the structural members of the landing platform. 

Apparently, Engineer Hardy’s SCBA caught on the structural member. The force 

of the man lift bent Engineer Hardy backwards and did not allow him to operate 

the man-lift controls. Engineer Hardy was obviously dead when he was reached 

by plant employees and firefighters.
Engineer Hardy’s body was removed from the silo after the arrival of a ladder 

truck from the Joplin Fire Department. The cause of death was listed as

positional asphyxia. The original fire was determined to be accidental, caused by 

sparks from welding.

•

November 10, 2005—1050hrs

Kenneth D. Mitchell, Fire Chief

Age 58, Volunteer

Tull Fire and Rescue, Arkansas

Chief Mitchell had just arrived on the scene of a working structure fire in a 

residence. He began to feel ill and went to sit in his vehicle. Other firefighters 

found him in distress. Firefighters summoned an ambulance, an AED was 

attached to Chief Mitchell, and paramedics provided treatment.

Chief Mitchell was pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack. The house

involved with the fire was unoccupied and had been used to manufacture illegal 

drugs in the past. The cause of the fire was last listed as “under investigation.”

•

November 12, 2005—1445hrs

Kevin Joe Foster, Captain

Age 41, Volunteer

Ellerslie Volunteer Fire Department, Georgia

Captain Foster was the driver and only occupant of a 1990 Emergency One 

pumper. He had just cleared the scene of an EMS incident and was dispatched 

to respond to a motor vehicle crash in a neighboring community.

As the apparatus responded at a speed estimated by witnesses as 35 miles per

hour, the right wheels of the pumper left the pavement and went off the road to

the right, where there was a drop-off of approximately 3 inches. Captain Foster 

steered to the left; the apparatus crossed over into the oncoming lane and then

left the roadway on the left-hand side. After the pumper left the roadway, it 

became airborne over a culvert and traveled 53 feet until it hit an oak tree and

came to rest.

Captain Foster, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown onto the floor on 

the passenger side of the pumper. Civilians who came upon the crash removed

Captain Foster from the apparatus and attempted to provide CPR. Their efforts

were not successful, and Captain Foster was pronounced dead at the scene.
•

November 12, 2005—Time Unknown

Max Buford Willard, Fire Chief

Age 69, Volunteer

Oakwood Volunteer Fire Department, Virginia

Chief Willard and the members of his fire department and other fire departments 

were fighting a wildland fire in a wooded area. The fire, which was caused by 

sparks from a lawnmower, eventually spread to approximately 350 acres. A total

of approximately 70 firefighters were working the incident.

About an hour into the fire fight, Chief Willard entered the woods with a rake. 

It was approximately 1400hrs and Chief Willard was not accompanied by

anyone. When Chief Willard did not return from his task after it had grown

dark, firefighters began to search for him. Chief Willard’s body was located at 

approximately 0830hrs on the following morning. He had suffered extensive

burns.

Although the details of Chief Willard’s death cannot be known, an investigator

speculated that Chief Willard was overtaken by the fire while raking a fire line. He 

did not have time to escape uphill.

•

November 14, 2005—2345hrs

James Elvis Lafferty, Sr., Fire Police Captain

Age 68, Volunteer

Union City Volunteer Fire Department, Pennsylvania

Fire Police Captain Lafferty and the members of his fire department responded to 

the scene of a fire in a two-story wood-frame residence. Shortly after firefighters 

arrived, the fully involved structure collapsed into the basement. Mutual aid from

surrounding fire departments was requested to fight the fire.

Fire Police Captain Lafferty was working traffic control on the fire scene when he 

was struck with a heart attack. Firefighters immediately began CPR and were 

joined by paramedics who were on the scene of the fire. Fire Police Captain 

Lafferty was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he was pronounced

dead.

•
November 20, 2005—1430hrs

Carl Fredrick Lambert, Firefighter

Age 66, Volunteer

Cabo Lucero Volunteer Fire Department, New Mexico

Firefighter Lambert was attending a 3-day wildland-fire chainsaw training course 

offered by the New Mexico State Forestry Division. On the 3rd day of training,

firefighters had felled two trees and were in the process of removing tree limbs 

when Firefighter Lambert expressed the need for a break.

After walking a short distance, Firefighter Lambert became unsteady on his feet. 

Firefighters came to his aid to give him support and he walked a short distance 

further, and then lost consciousness. EMS-trained personnel who were enrolled 

in the class, including EMT’s and a paramedic, began to treat Firefighter Lambert.

Firefighter Lambert was transported by vehicle to meet an ambulance that had 

been requested. His treatment was transferred to ambulance staff, and he was 

transported to the hospital. Upon his arrival at the hospital, it was confirmed that 

Firefighter Lambert had suffered a heart attack. As he was being prepared for 

helicopter transfer to a regional hospital, he suffered a second heart attack.

Firefighter Lambert was stabilized and transferred to the regional hospital. He 

underwent emergency surgery, but did not survive.

•

November 22, 2005—1427hrs

Clint Dewayne Rice, Firefighter

Age 28, Volunteer

Carlton Volunteer Fire Department, Texas

Firefighter Rice was driving a tractor-trailer fire department tanker (tender) to a 

mutual-aid grass fire. Firefighter Rice lost control of the apparatus while rounding 

a curve; the apparatus left the roadway and overturned.

Firefighter Rice was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the 

scene. He had been a member of his department for 3 months.

•

November 22, 2005—Time Unknown

Robert Timothy Staepel, Jr., Firefighter/EMT

Age 41, Career

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Philadelphia Federal Fire Department, Pennsylvania
Firefighter/EMT Staepel participated in live-fire training while on duty for his 

regular shift on November 21, 2005. The next day, he felt unwell and called

9-1-1 from his home. Shortly after placing the call, he went into cardiac arrest.

Firefighter/EMT Staepel never regained consciousness, and died on November 

25, 2005.

•

November 23, 2005—2345hrs

Charles Arnold McKenzie, Firefighter

Age 75, Volunteer

West Van Lear Fire Department, Kentucky

Members of Firefighter McKenzie’s fire department had been on the scene of a 

structural fire for approximately 2 hours. They had initially been pumping water 

from a nearby creek, but the creek ran dry. Firefighter McKenzie arrived at the 

incident and agreed to become a driver in a water tanker (tender) shuttle.

Firefighter McKenzie had delivered four loads of water and was waiting in line to 

dump his tank. For some reason, Firefighter McKenzie and his passenger got out 

of the truck and began walking toward the fire.

The passenger was walking in front of Firefighter McKenzie. He heard Firefighter 

McKenzie yell and turned to see Firefighter McKenzie pinned beneath his truck as 

it rolled toward a ditch. Firefighter McKenzie was crushed by the apparatus as it 

entered the ditch.

•

November 28, 2005—0939hrs

Christopher James Roy, Firefighter

Age 25, Career

Calera Fire/Rescue, Alabama

Firefighter Roy was responding as the driver and only occupant of a pumper 

en route to an EMS incident. A few minutes into the response, the pumper 

crashed into the trailer of a tractor-trailer truck at an intersection. The collision 

caused major damage to the apparatus, with the damage focused on the driver’s

position.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene after reports of the crash reached the 

dispatch center. Arriving firefighters found Firefighter Roy conscious, complaining 

that he could not feel his legs and that his chest felt funny. Firefighter Roy’s legs 

were entangled in the wreckage and extrication was needed.

continued on next page
The extrication effort was significant, involving the use of a backhoe, a 

forklift, a tow truck, and hydraulic rescue tools. Firefighter Roy was extricated 

approximately 40 minutes after the crash. His condition had worsened during

the extrication process. He was transported by ambulance to a nearby landing

zone, and then transported by medical helicopter to a regional hospital, where

Firefighter Roy died of his injuries. 

A lawsuit was filed by Firefighter Roy’s mother in January 2006, claiming that 

the drivers of the tractor-trailer truck and a dump truck failed to yield to an 

emergency vehicle.

•

December 2, 2005—1320hrs

Richard Bernard “Ricky” McCurley, Captain

Age 33, Career

New Orleans Fire Department, Louisiana

Captain McCurley’s engine company was responding to a report of a gas leak. As

the apparatus entered an intersection during the response, the driver swerved to

avoid a tractor-trailer truck that also was entering the intersection. The pumper

clipped a minivan stopped at the intersection, left the roadway, and rolled over.

The driver of the apparatus was ejected. Captain McCurley was pinned under the

“A” pillar of the fire apparatus and was killed. The cause of death was listed as 

positional asphyxia. The speed of the fire apparatus was cited as a factor in the 

crash.

•

December 10, 2005—1948hrs

Chelsea Lyn Garvin, Firefighter

Age 19, Volunteer

Fish River-Marlow Fire and Rescue, Alabama

Firefighter Garvin and two other firefighters were returning from a standby at the 

Fish River Christmas Boat Parade. The firefighters were returning to their launch 

site in the department’s 15-foot rescue boat about an hour after the conclusion 

of the parade.

The boat collided head-on with another vessel, and Firefighter Garvin and another 

firefighter were thrown into the water. Firefighter Garvin was pulled from the 

water by boaters and was found to be in cardiac arrest.

Firefighter Garvin was transported by helicopter to a regional hospital, where she 

died of her injuries on December 15, 2005.
•

December 11, 2005—0130hrs

Chad Ernest Wessels, Captain

Age 31, Volunteer

Briggs Volunteer Fire Department, Texas

Captain Wessels was the driver and only occupant of a 1,200-gallon fire 

department tanker (tender) responding to a structure fire. During the response, a 

rear wheel of the flatbed truck failed, causing the tanker to leave the roadway and 

crash.

The tanker struck a fence and some trees, and then caught fire. Captain Wessels 

was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was killed in the crash.

Captain Wessels was also a career firefighter at Fort Hood.

•

December 20, 2005—2138hrs

Michael A. Hart, Firefighter/Paramedic

Age 33, Career

Elkins Fire Department, West Virginia

Firefighter/Paramedic Hart was returning from teaching a Firefighter I class in his 

personal vehicle. A tractor-trailer swerved to avoid a stopped car and crashed 

into Firefighter/Paramedic Hart’s vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

•
INCIDENTS PRIOR TO

2005

February 10, 1994

Dennis J. Bottge, Lieutenant

Age at Death 53, Career

Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Florida

Lieutenant Bottge was providing care to the victim of a cardiac arrest. The

patient suffered a series of seizures, resulting in Lieutenant Bottge’s significant 

exposure to blood and other body fluids. As a result of this exposure, Lieutenant 

Bottge contracted Hepatitis C.

He began treatment and continued to work until his heath deteriorated and he

was no longer able to work. Lieutenant Bottge was granted disability benefits 

upon his retirement. He died of complications of his disease on May 22, 2005.

•

May 27, 2000

Donald G. Pedro, Lieutenant

Age at Death 45, Career

Endicott Fire Department, New York

Lieutenant Pedro was on duty at the fire station. As he was working on his 

personal vehicle, a jack buckled and the vehicle crushed him. Lieutenant Pedro

was severely injured, and received a disability retirement.

Lieutenant Pedro suffered a brain injury, and as a result was unable to work or to

live at home. He suffered a seizure on December 31, 2004, and died.

•

Unknown Date in 2000

William Hudson, Captain

Age at Death 50, Career

Salem Fire Department, Massachusetts

Captain Hudson contracted Hepatitis C while on duty in 2000, and died as the

result of his disease on February 3, 2005.

•
June 26, 2004

Michael James Bevens, Captain

Age at Death 59, Career

North Little Rock Fire Department, Arkansas

Captain Bevens suffered a shoulder injury while loading an obese patient into an

ambulance. He was assigned to the fire department fire marshal’s office while on 

limited duty.

He underwent surgery for his injury on November 6, 2005, and died of

complications of the surgery.

•

December 27, 2004—1032hrs

Thomas L. Ivey, Firefighter

Age at Death 48, Volunteer

West Iron County Fire Department, Michigan

Firefighter Ivey was responding to a motor vehicle crash in his personal vehicle 

when he was involved in a crash. He suffered a cervical fracture and spinal

cord injuries that resulted in quadriplegia. He died of complications of the 

quadriplegia on July 26, 2005.

Ap p e n dix B

Fi r e f i g h t e r Fa t a l i t y In c l u s i o n

Cr i t e r i a—Na t i o n a l Fi r e S e r v i c e

Or g a n i z a t i o n s

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 

the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), 

the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and other 

organizations collect information on firefighter 

fatalities in the United States. Each organization 

uses a slightly different set of inclusion criteria that 

are based at least in part on the purposes of the 

information collection for each organization and 

data consistency.

As a result of these differing inclusion criteria, 

statistics about firefighter fatalities may be 

provided by each organization that do not coincide 

with one another. This section will explain the 

inclusion criteria for each organization and provide 

information about these differences.

1

Firefighter Fatalities in 2005

The USFA includes firefighters in this report who 

die while on duty, become ill while on duty and 

later die, and firefighters who die within 24 hours 

of an emergency response or training regardless of 

whether the firefighter complained of illness while 

on duty. The USFA counts firefighter deaths that 

occur in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 

and United States territories such as Puerto Rico 

and Guam. 

For 2005, the USFA reported 115 onduty 

firefighter fatalities.

Inclusion Criteria for NFPA’s

Annual Firefighter Fatality Study

Introduction

Each year, the NFPA collects data on all firefighter 

fatalities in the United States that resulted from 

injuries or illnesses that occurred while the victims 

were on duty. The purpose of the study is to 

analyze trends in the types of illnesses and injuries 

resulting in death that occur while firefighters 

are on the job. This annual census of firefighter 

fatalities in its current format dates back to 1977. 

(Between 1974 and 1976, NFPA published a study 

of onduty firefighter fatalities that was not as 

comprehensive.) 
U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

What is a Firefighter?

For the purpose of the NFPA study, the term 

“firefighter” covers all uniformed members of 

organized fire departments, whether career, 

volunteer, combination, or contract; full-time 

public service officers acting as firefighters; State 

and Federal government fire service personnel; 

temporary fire suppression personnel operating 

under official auspices of one of the above; and 

privately employed firefighters including trained 

members of industrial or institutional fire brigades, 

whether full- or part-time.

Under this definition, the study includes, besides 

uniformed members of local career and volunteer 

fire departments, those seasonal and full-time 

employees of State and Federal agencies who have 

fire suppression responsibilities as part of their job 

description, prison inmates serving on firefighting 

crews, military personnel performing assigned fire 

suppression activities, civilian firefighters working 

at military installations, and members of industrial 

fire brigades. Impressed civilians also would be 

included if called on by the officer in charge of 

the incident to carry out specific duties. The NFPA 

study includes fatalities that occur in the 50 States 

and the District of Columbia. 

What Does “On Duty” Mean?

The term “on duty” refers to being at the scene 

of an alarm, whether a fire or nonfire incident; 

being en route while responding to or returning 

from an alarm; performing other assigned duties 

such as training, maintenance, public education, 

inspection, investigations, court testimony, and 

fundraising; and being on call, under orders, 

or on standby duty other than at home or at 

the individual’s place of business. Fatalities that 

occur at a firefighter’s home may be counted if 

the actions of the firefighter at the time of injury 

involved firefighting or rescue.

Onduty fatalities include any injury sustained in 

the line of duty that proves fatal, any illness that 

was incurred as a result of actions while on duty 

that proves fatal, and fatal mishaps involving nonemergency occupational hazards that occur while 

on duty. The types of injuries included in the first 

category are mainly those that occur at an incident 

scene, in training, or in accidents while responding 

to or returning from alarms. Illnesses (including 

heart attacks) are included when the exposure or 

onset of symptoms are tied to a specific incident of 

onduty activity. Those symptoms must have been 

in evidence while the victim was on duty for the 

fatality to be included in the study. 

Fatal injuries and illnesses are included even in 

cases where death is considerably delayed. When 

the onset of the condition and the death occur in 

different years, the incident is counted in the year 

of the condition’s onset. Medical documentation 

specifically tying the death to the specific injury is 

required for inclusion of these cases in the study.

Categories Not Included in the Study

The NFPA study does not include members of fire 

department auxiliaries, nonuniformed employees 

of fire departments, emergency medical technicians 

(EMT’s) who are not also firefighters, chaplains, 

or civilian dispatchers. The study also does not 

include suicides as onduty fatalities even when the 

suicide occurs on fire department property.

The NFPA recognizes that a comprehensive study of 

firefighter onduty fatalities would include chronic 

illnesses (such as cardiovascular disease and certain 

cancers) that prove fatal and that arose from 

occupational factors. In practice, there is as yet no 

mechanism for identifying onduty fatalities that 

are due to illnesses that develop over long periods 

of time. This creates an incomplete picture when 

comparing occupational illnesses to other factors 

as causes of firefighter deaths. This is recognized 

as a gap the size of which cannot be identified at 
FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

this time because of the limitations in tracking the 

exposure of firefighters to toxic environments and 

substances and the potential long-term effects of 

such exposures.

2005 Experience

In 2005, a total of 87 onduty firefighter deaths 

occurred in the United States, according to NFPA’s 

inclusion criteria. 

National Fallen Firefighters

Foundation

In 1997, fire service leaders formulated new criteria 

to determine eligibility for inclusion on the National 

Fallen Firefighter Memorial. Line-of-duty deaths 

shall be determined by the following standards:

1. (a) Deaths of firefighters meeting the 

Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ 

Benefits (PSOB) program guidelines, and those 

cases that appear to meet these guidelines 

whether or not PSOB staff has adjudicated the 

specific case prior to the annual National Fallen 

Firefighters Memorial Service; and

(b) Deaths of firefighters from injuries, heart 

attacks, or illnesses documented to show a 

direct link to a specific emergency incident or 

department-mandated training activity.

2. While PSOB guidelines cover only public safety 

officers, the Foundation’s criteria also include 

contract firefighters and firefighters employed 

by a private company, such as those in an 

industrial brigade, provided that the deaths 

meet the standards listed above.

3. Some specific cases will be excluded from 

consideration, such as deaths attributable to 

suicide, alcohol, or substance abuse, or other 

gross abuses as specified in the PSOB guidelines.

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was 

built in 1981 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The 

names listed there begin with those firefighters 

who died in the line of duty that year. The 

United States Congress created the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort 

to remember America’s fallen firefighters. Since 

1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit Foundation has 

developed and expanded programs to honor our 

fallen fire heroes and assist their families and 

coworkers by providing them with resources to 

rebuild their lives. Since 1997, the Foundation has 

managed the National Memorial Service held each 

October to honor the firefighters who died in the 

line of duty the previous year.
At the 

October 2006 Memorial Weekend, the 

Foundation will be honoring 107 firefighters who died in the line 

of duty. Of those 107 being honored, 100 died in 2005 and 7 others died in 

previous years. The following is a list of the 100 personnel to be honored 

who died in 2005:

1 continued on next page

U. S. Fire AdminiStrAtion

Keith David Allred, Fire Chief

Daniel Raymond Angert, Fire Police Officer 

Michael Alfred Aunkst, Firefighter

John Gerard Bellew, Lieutenant

Robert Allen Bestgen, Firefighter 

Michael James Bevens, Captain*

Todd Alan Blanchard, Firefighter 

William Bostian, Fire Police Lieutenant

Dennis J. Bottge, Lieutenant*

Robert G. Brooks, Sr., Firefighter Trainee

Brian Bruns, Pilot

Joseph William “Pete” Buckel, Fire Chief

Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Buehne, Fire Chief 

Grady Don Burke, Captain

Paul Albert Carr, Firefighter

Michael Thomas Childress, Assistant Fire Chief

Sally Renée Clark, Firefighter

Valeree Sue Claude, Firefighter/EMT

Paul Cockrell, Pilot

Henry James Combs, Fire Chief

Donald Conner, Firefighter

Jacob Earl Cook, Firefighter

Donald Eugene “Dan” DeVries, Firefighter

Christopher R. DeWolf, Lieutenant

Robert Wayne Duff, Firefighter

Charles Lynn Edgar, Fire Management Officer

Andre Miguel “Mike” Ellis, Sergeant

Franklin W. Eubanks, Firefighter

Joseph Harold Evans, Firefighter

Michael D. Falkouski, Assistant Fire Chief

Richard Allen Fast, Firefighter

Justin Paul Faur, Firefighter

Kevin Joe Foster, Captain

James H. Fugate, Firefighter*

Ornell Edgar Fuller, Jr., Captain

Kenneth Ray Gailley, Firefighter/EMT

Robert Gerald Gallardy, Captain

José Victor Gonzales, Pilot

William “Bill” Matt Goodin, Captain

John Greeno, Heliport Base Manager

Timmy Shane Hardy, Engineer

Michael A. Hart, Firefighter/Paramedic

Robert Purjue Henderson, Assistant Lieutenant

Henry DeAngelo Hobbs, Jr., Senior Forest Ranger

Jerry Wayne Hopper, Forestry Technician

Christopher Brian Hunton, Firefighter

Thomas Allen Hurlbert, Jr., Fire Apparatus Operator

John R. Husser, Firefighter

Thomas L. Ivey, Firefighter*

Marvin Jackson, Fire Chief

Wendell Anthony Jeffery, Lieutenant

Gary Wayne Jolley, Firefighter

Christopher Matthew Kanton, Firefighter

Terry A. Kelver, Lieutenant

Edwin E. King, Fire Chief

Karl Klifton “Kliff” Kramer IV, Firefighter Recruit
1

FireFighter FAtAlitieS in the United StAteS in 2005

Frank Joseph Kucera, Lieutenant

James Elvis Lafferty, Sr., Fire Police Captain

Peter Bruce Lund, Lieutenant

Tom Lynch, Pilot

Gerald Michael Martinez, SEAT Manager

Mark Francis “Mac” McCormack, Captain

Richard Bernard “Ricky” McCurley, Captain

Charles Arnold McKenzie, Firefighter

Michael Angelo Mercurio, Jr., Firefighter/EMT

James E. Mero, Jr., Deputy Fire Coordinator/Fire Inves.

Curtis W. Meyran, Lieutenant

Mark A. Mianulli, Firefighter

Kenneth D. Mitchell, Fire Chief

Dale A. Monica, Firefighter

Thomas Logan Mower, Fire Police Officer

Lonnie Wayne Nicklas, Fire Chief

David Wayne O’Conner, Driver/Operator

James J. O’Neil, Firefighter

E. Timothy Parsell, Captain

Robert Lee Pauley, Firefighter

Angelo Petta, Chief Engineer

Brandon Scott Phillips, Firefighter/Paramedic

William Wade Pierce, Firefighter

William H. Poage, Jr., Firefighter

Clint Dewayne Rice, Firefighter

Christopher James Roy, Firefighter

Walter Matthew “Matt” Sarnoski, Firefighter

Richard Thomas Sclafani, Firefighter

Carl E. Sherman, Firefighter

Todd Raymond Smith, Firefighter

Robert Timothy Staepel, Jr., Firefighter

Bruce Sternberger, Firefighter

Michael A. Switala, Firefighter

Walter Leo Sykes, Jr., Firefighter

Eduardo B. “Ed” Teran, Firefighter

Scott Allen Thornton, Captain

Joseph F. Walsh, Fire Police Officer

James C. “Jimmy” Webb, Assistant Chief

Chad Ernest Wessels, Captain

Max Buford Willard, Fire Chief

Justin M. Wisniewski, Firefighter

Alfred A. Wohrman, Firefighter

Allen Wayne Wright, Fire Chief

Timmy Young, Fire Equipment Operator

The following firefighters who died prior to 2005 

also are being honored:

Leroy M. “Punch” Byers, Fire Police

Eugene M. Knause, Firefighter

Vincent G. McGuinness, Firefighter

Bennie J. Shields, Lieutenant

Carl W. Shoemaker, Engineer

Gerald J. Winuk, Firefighter/EMT

Robert E. Woolf, Firefighter

* Denotes a firefighter fatality that occurred in 2005 as the result of an incident in a previous year.