Firefighter Fatalities 

in the United States in 2001 

August 2002 

In memory of all firefighters who 

answered their last call in 2001 

To their families and friends 

To their service and sacrifice 
U.S. Fire Administration 

Mission Statement 

As an entity of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, the mission of 

the United States Fire Administration is 

to reduce life and economic losses 

due to fire and related emergencies, 

through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. 

Nation independently, in coordination 

with other Federal agencies, and in 

partnership with fire protection and 

emergency 

With a commitment to excellence, we 

provide public education, training, 

technology, and data initiatives. 

We serve the 

service communities. 

iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This 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, the National Interagency Fire Center, United States Forest Service 

personnel, the United States military, the Department of Justice, NFPA International, and many 

others, contributed important information for this report. 

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

increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they can be prevented. 

Firefighting, rescue, and other types of emergency operations are essential activities in an inherently dangerous profession, and unfortunate 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 increase firefighter health and safety. 

Photographic Acknowledgments 

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like to extend its thanks to the following individuals for providing photographs for this report: 

Mike Rieger, FEMA News Photo ..............................................................................................................7 

New York, NY, September 25, 2001 - A firefighter surveys the remaining shell and tons of debris 

of the World Trade Center (WTC). Clearing the rubble from the collapsed twin towers and other 

surrounding buildings is a daunting task for the hundreds of workers at the site of the terrorist 

attack. 

Jennifer Compston, The Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia ........................................................12 

Brake failure caused a tanker to leave the road and roll down a steep hillside. The passenger 

in the tanker, Firefighter Clifford Andrew White, Jr., of the Cameron Volunteer Fire Department, 

West Virginia, was killed. 

Paul Ramirez, Phoenix Fire Department ..............................................................................................19 

Phoenix Paramedic Firefighter Bret R. Tarver was killed when he ran out of air and became disoriented inside of a supermarket. 

Glenn Hartong, The Cincinnati Enquirer ..............................................................................................22 

Firefighters provide treatment and move Firefighter William “Doc” Ellison toward medical transportation after rescuing him from the interior of a residential structure fire. Firefighter Ellison was 

a member of the Miami Township Fire Department in Ohio. He survived for 12 days before succumbing to burn injuries. 

v 
Darrell Wong, The Fresno Bee................................................................................................................23 

The cab of this engine was crushed when a water tank became overpressurized and exploded. The tank rocketed upward and struck the roof of the apparatus. Engineer Kirk James 

Shafer of the North Central Fire Protection District in California was killed. 

Andrea Booher, FEMA News Photo ......................................................................................................43 

New York, NY, September 16, 2001 - Members of the New York Fire Department continue their 

search for survivors amongst the wreckage. 

Jerry Sowden, The Derrick, Oil City, Pennsylvania..............................................................................43 

An empty set of turnout gear forms the base for a memorial outside of the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Andrew John White died on January 11, 

2001 when he became disoriented in a fire involving a manufactured home. 

Glenn Hartong, The Cincinnati Enquirer ................................................................................Final Page 

Bagpipers play during funeral services for Firefighter William “Doc” Ellision of the Miami Township 

Fire Department. 

Front Cover Photographic Acknowledgements 

Glenn Hartong, Jerry Sowden, Andrea Booher, Darrell Wong 

vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

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

What Constitutes an On-Duty Fatality?................................................................................................4

Sources of Initial Notification ................................................................................................................5

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

Explanation of Figures ............................................................................................................................5

2001 Findings ............................................................................................................................................7

Career and Volunteer Deaths ..............................................................................................................9

Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents ....................................................................................................9

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

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

Fireground Operations ........................................................................................................................12

Responding/Returning..........................................................................................................................12

Other On Duty ......................................................................................................................................13

Training ..................................................................................................................................................14

Nonfire Emergencies ............................................................................................................................14

After an Incident ..................................................................................................................................14

Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Deaths by Type of Duty..............................................................14

Type of Emergency Duty ....................................................................................................................16

Cause of Fatal Injury ..............................................................................................................................17

Stress or Overexertion ..........................................................................................................................18

Caught or Trapped ..............................................................................................................................18

Vehicle Collisions ..................................................................................................................................19

Struck by Object ..................................................................................................................................19

Structural Collapse................................................................................................................................20

Falls ........................................................................................................................................................20

Assault ....................................................................................................................................................20

Other ......................................................................................................................................................20

Nature of Fatal Injury ..............................................................................................................................21

Heart Attack ..........................................................................................................................................21

Internal Trauma ....................................................................................................................................22

Asphyxiation ..........................................................................................................................................22

vii 
Burns........................................................................................................................................................22

Crushed..................................................................................................................................................23

Other ......................................................................................................................................................23

Firefighters’ Ages ....................................................................................................................................25

Fixed Property Use for Structural Firefighting Deaths ..........................................................................27

Type of Activity ......................................................................................................................................29

Search and Rescue ..............................................................................................................................30

Fire Attack..............................................................................................................................................30

Cutting Fire Breaks ................................................................................................................................30

Water Supply ........................................................................................................................................30

Operating Aircraft ................................................................................................................................30

Ventilation..............................................................................................................................................30

Support ..................................................................................................................................................31

Scene Safety..........................................................................................................................................31

Overhaul ................................................................................................................................................31

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

Month of Injury ........................................................................................................................................35

State and Region ....................................................................................................................................37

Analysis of Urban/Rural/Suburban Patterns in Firefighter Fatalities ..................................................41

Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................43

Special Topics ........................................................................................................................................45

Heart Disease - Immediate Impact ....................................................................................................45

Incident Operations - Immediate Impact ........................................................................................50

Appendix A - Summary of 2001 Incidents ..........................................................................................53

Appendix B - Fire Department City of New York Members Lost On September 11, 2001 ............103

List of Figures 

1.On Duty Fatalities (1977-2001)............................................................................................................8

2.Firefighter Fatalities per 10,000 Fire Incidents (1977-2000) ..............................................................8

3.Fatalities by Type of Duty..................................................................................................................12

4.Career, Volunteer and Wildland Fatalities by Type of Duty ........................................................15

5.Fatalities by Type of Emergency Duty ............................................................................................16

6.Fatalities by Cause of Fatal Injury....................................................................................................17

7.Nature of Fatal Injury ........................................................................................................................21

viii TABLE OF CONTENTS
8.Heart Attacks by Type of Duty ........................................................................................................21

9.Fatalities by Age and Nature ..........................................................................................................25

10.Fatalities by Type of Activity ..........................................................................................................29

11.Fatalities by Time of Fatal Injury......................................................................................................33

12.Fatalities by Month of Fatal Injury ..................................................................................................35

13.Fatalities by Region..........................................................................................................................37

14.Map of 2001 On Duty Firefighter Fatalities....................................................................................38

List of Tables 

1.Career vs. Volunteer Fatalities ..........................................................................................................9

2.Multiple Fatality Incidents ..................................................................................................................9

3.Fatalities Associated With Wildland Firefighting ..............................................................................9

4.Wildland Firefighting Aircraft Fatalities............................................................................................10

5.Fatalities While Performing Emergency Duty Without WTC..........................................................11

6.Fatalities While Performing Emergency Duty Including WTC ......................................................11

7.Emergency Duty Fatalities Without WTC ........................................................................................11

8.Emergency Duty Fatalities Including WTC......................................................................................11

9.Fatalities by Type of Duty Including WTC ......................................................................................12

10.Fatalities While Responding to or Returning From an Incident ..................................................12

11.Fatalities During Training..................................................................................................................14

12.Career, Volunteer and Wildland Fatalities by Type of Duty Including WTC ............................15

13.Fatalities by Type of Emergency Duty Including WTC ................................................................16

14.Fatalities by Cause of Fatal Injury Including WTC........................................................................18

15.Fatalities Caused by Stress or Overexertion ................................................................................18

16.Fatalities Caused by Being Caught or Trapped ..........................................................................18

17.Nature of Fatal Injury Including WTC ............................................................................................21

18.Internal Trauma Fatalities ................................................................................................................22

19.Fatalities Due to Asphyxiation ........................................................................................................22

20.Firefighters' Ages and Nature of Fatal Injury Including WTC ......................................................26

21.Structural Firefighting Fatalities by Fixed Property Use ................................................................27

22.Fatalities in Residential Occupancies............................................................................................27

23.Fatalities by Type of Activity Including WTC ................................................................................29

24.Fatalities While Engaged in Fire Attacks ......................................................................................30

25.Fatalities by State ............................................................................................................................39

26.Fatalities by Coverage Area Type ................................................................................................41

TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
BACKGROUND

For 25 years, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter 

fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward 

finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also 

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 four 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, are invited to the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

Service. The service is normally held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, 

Maryland, annually, during Fire Prevention Week. Due to the large numbers of firefighters killed 

in the line-of-duty in 2001, the 2002 ceremony will be held in Washington, DC. Additional information regarding the Memorial Service can be found on the Internet at http://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 Officer Benefit 

(PSOB) program can be found at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/ffmem.cfm 

1
INTRODUCTION

This report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on duty firefighter fatalities in the 

United States. 

The specific objective of this study is to identify all on duty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the 

United States in 2001 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 2001 overall 

findings, this study includes 

assessments of trends over the 

past 6 years, as well as special 

analysis on actions that can 

immediately impact cardiac 

health and firefighter safety during emergency operations. 

Who is a Firefighter? 

For the purpose of this study, the 

term firefighter covers all members of organized fire departments in all States, the District of 

Columbia, and the Territories of 

the United States. It includes 

career and volunteer firefighters; 

full-time public safety officers 

As this document was going to print, USFA was notified 

that the Department of Justic (DOJ) had approved 

payment of benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ 

Benefits (PSOB) Program for three Fire Safety Directors 

who died in the World Trade Center incident based on 

the Report of Public Safety Officers Death submitted by 

FDNY. 

lished “on-duty” criteria for inclusion in this report; 

therefore, the total loss in firefighter lives for the WTC 

incident is hereby adjusted to 344 and the 2001 nationWIlliam Wren, Fire Safety Director, OCS Group 

Philip T. Hayes, Deputy Fire Safety Director, OCS Group 

James J. Corrigan, Fire Safety Director, OCS Group 

The names of the firefighters approved for benefits are: 

al total to 446. 

Qualification for PSOB benefits meets the estabacting 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 full- or 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 United States 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 firefighters employed by other governmental 

agencies such as the United States Department of Energy; military personnel performing assigned 

3 
fire suppression activities; civilian firefighters working at military installations; and prison inmates 

serving on firefighting crews. 

The Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) lost 343 members on September 11, 2001. Two of 

these members were full-time Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers that did not have any 

firefighting responsibilities. This study includes the 341 members of the FDNY that were assigned 

to the firefighting component of the department. 

What Constitutes an On Duty Fatality? 

On duty fatalities include any injury or illness sustained while on duty that proves fatal. The term 

"on duty" 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, and fund raising; 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 that becomes ill while performing fire department duties 

and suffers a heart attack shortly after 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. 

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 would also 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 that the incident took place. 

Two firefighters died in 2001 as the result of injuries that they suffered in previous years. Also in 

2001, the USFA was notified of the deaths of 2 additional firefighters from years previous to 2001 

that were not known or included in the firefighter fatality reports for those years. For statistical purposes, each firefighter death is counted in the year in which the incident occurred. Information 

about these 4 deaths is included in the appendix of this report, but they are not addressed in the 

body of the report unless the death impacts retrospective statistical comparisons. 

There is no established mechanism for identifying fatalities that result from illnesses that develop 

over long periods of time, such as cancer, which may be related to occupational exposure to 

hazardous materials or products of combustion. It has proven 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 often delayed long-term effects of such toxic hazard exposures, and the 

exposures firefighters may receive while off duty. 

4 INTRODUCTION 
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 (DOJ), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the United States military, the 

National Interagency Fire Center, and other Federal agencies. 

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), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) International, 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 and 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 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 International, the USFA, or NIOSH reports on an incident. 

After obtaining this information, a determination is made as to whether the death qualifies as an 

on duty firefighter fatality according to the previously described criteria. The same criteria were 

used for this study as in previous annual studies. Additional information may be requested, either 

by follow-up with the fire department directly, from State vital records offices, or other agencies. 

The determination as to whether a fatality qualifies as an on duty 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. 

Explanation of Figures 

In order to conduct a comparison of firefighter deaths in 2001 with firefighter deaths in previous 

years, we occasionally separate the firefighter losses of September 11, 2001, from the analysis of 

the perennial killers of firefighters each year -- heart attacks, internal trauma, asphyxiation, and 

others. For this reason, deaths occurring at the World Trade Center (WTC) are not included in 

some figures. 

INTRODUCTION 5 
2001 FINDINGS

Four hundred and forty-three firefighters died while on duty in 2001. This is the largest single-year 

loss ever experienced in the history of the fire service in the United States. Three hundred and 

forty-one firefighters1 died at the World Trade Center (WTC) towers in New York City on 

September 11, 2001. This is the largest loss of firefighters’ lives on any single incident in the history of the United States, and for all of recorded worldwide fire service history. The next highest loss 

of firefighters’ lives in the United States on a single incident was the explosion of two ships in Texas 

City, Texas, on April 16, 1947. Twenty-seven firefighters were killed. The only other incident to 

claim more than 20 firefighters’ lives was an incident in Chicago on December 22, 19102. 

351 Firefighters were murdered in 2001: 

- 341 in the terrorist attacks on the World 

Trade Center 

- 9 in arson-caused or suspicious fires 

- 1 at the hands of a gunman 

On September 11th, the firefighters who 

died had over 4,448 years of collective 

13.4 years. 

fire service experience, an average of 

2001 had over 5,942 years of collective 

The 443 firefighters who died on duty in 

13 years. 

fire service experience, an average of 

1 The City and State of New York classified Father Judge, FDNY Chaplin, as a firefighter. 

2 Hank Przybylowicz, Line of Duty Death Research Service. 

7 
During the course of the year, 102 firefighters died while on duty in the United States in 91 other 

incidents. Six of the 102 firefighters were FDNY firefighters that died in 4 separate incidents unrelated to the WTC incident. 

The total of 443 firefighter fatalities is 

the fourth time in the last 10 years 

and the ninth time within the last 15 

years when the total number of firefighter fatalities has exceeded 100. 

Even if the WTC deaths are not 

included in the 2001 total, this 

would be true. The lowest years on 

record were 1992 with 75 fatalities 

and 1993 with 77 fatalities (Figure 1). 

Figure 1. On Duty Fatalities (1977-2001) 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 

1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 

2001* 

Number 

of 

Deaths 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

443 

171 

119 

131 

136 

126 

121 

108 

109 

75 

77 

104 

97 

95 95 

91 

113 

103 

125 

113 

119 

140 

135 

126 

157 

*The 102 non-WTC fatalities are represented in black. 

While the total number of firefighter fatalities has been trending downward over the past 20 

years, the number of firefighter deaths per fire incident has risen. Figure 2 compares the total 

number of firefighter fatalities each year and the total number of fire incidents reported by NFPA 

International through 2000 (2001 data is not yet available). While firefighters die in many nonfire 

situations, the fatalities in Figure 2 are compared to fire incidents only. This information suggests 

that firefighting is getting more hazardous. A retrospective study of firefighter fatalities that covers the period 1990-2000 was recently published by USFA and sheds more light on this subject. The 

retrospective study of firefighter fatalities is available from the USFA Publications Center. 

Figure 2. Firefighter Fatalities per 10,000 Fire Incidents (1977-2000) 

8 2001 FINDINGS
Career and Volunteer Deaths 

The 2001 firefighter fatalities included 75 volunteer 

firefighters and 368 career firefighters (Table 1). 

Among the volunteer firefighter fatalities, 63 were 

from local or municipal volunteer fire departments, 

and 12 were seasonal or contract members of wildland fire agencies. All of the career firefighters that 

died were members of local or municipal fire 

departments. Four hundred and thirty-eight of the 

fatalities were men and 5 were women. 

Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents 

Table 1. Career vs. Volunteer Fatalities 

TOTAL (443) 

Career (368) Volunteer (75) 

Metro Depts (361) Suburban/Urban VFD (26) 

Other Depts (7) Rural VFD (37) 

Wildland Seasonal/Part-time (12) 

The 443 deaths resulted from 92 incidents. There were 8 

multiple firefighter fatality incidents resulting in the 

deaths of 359 firefighters (Table 2). If the WTC deaths are 

not included, there were 7 multiple firefighter fatality incidents resulting in the deaths of 18 firefighters. 

In 2001, 341 New York City firefighters died in the attack 

on and subsequent collapse of the WTC; 4 Washington 

firefighters were killed when a wildland fire progressed 

rapidly and overran their position; an Oregon-based helicopter crew of 3 was killed in the crash of a firefighting 

Table 2. Multiple Fatality Incidents 

Year 

2001 

Number of 

Incidents 

8 

Total Number 

of Fatalities 

359 

2001 w/o WTC 7 18 

2000 5 10 

1999 6 22 

1998 10 22 

1997 8 17 

1996 3 8 

helicopter in Montana; 3 New York City firefighters were killed in the explosion of a hardware

store; 2 Illinois firefighters were killed when they were trapped by rapid fire progress in a residential basement fire; 2 Missouri firefighters died when they became disoriented and trapped in a

residential structure fire; 2 Pennsylvania firefighters died as they attempted to recover the body

of a boater in rapidly flowing water; and 2 California air tanker pilots were killed in a mid-air collision.

Wildland Firefighting Deaths

The number of deaths associated with brush, grass, or wildland Table 3. Fatalities Associated with

firefighting in 2001 was 15 (Table 3). In 2001, there were 6 fire- Wildland Firefighting

fighter deaths associated with aircraft firefighting duties (2 multiple fatality incidents claimed 5 firefighters and one crash

claimed a single firefighter). This total includes fixed-wing aircraft

and helicopters (Table 4).

Year Total Number 

of Fatalities 

2001 15 

2000 19 

1999 28 

1998 13 

1997 10 

1996 5 

2001 FINDINGS 9
Four Washington firefighters were killed when a rapidly advancing fire overran their position; an 

Oregon-based wildland helicopter crew of 3 were killed when their aircraft crashed during a 

return-to-service maintenance flight in Montana; 2 wildland air tanker pilots were killed when their 

aircrafts collided in midair while fighting a fire in California; 2 firefighters were killed in separate 

tanker rollovers while responding to wildland fires in Kentucky and West Virginia; a Washington 

firefighter died of a heart attack caused by an abnormal heart rhythm while operating a tanker 

(tender) at a wildland fire; the pilot of a single-engine air tanker was killed in a crash in Idaho; a 

Tennessee wildland firefighter was trapped by fire progress; and a Montana firefighter was struck 

and killed by a falling tree. 

Table 4. Wildland Firefighting Aircraft 

Fatalities 

Year Total Number 

of Fatalities 

2001 6 

2000 6 

1999 0 

1998 3 

1997 5 

1996 0 

10 2001 FINDINGS
TYPE OF DUTY

In 2001, 407 on duty firefighter deaths were associated with emergency incidents, accounting for 

92 percent of the 443 fatalities (Table 5 and Table 6). This includes all firefighters who died while 

responding to an emergency, while at the emergency scene, or while returning from the emergency incident. Nonemergency activities accounted for 36 fatalities (8 percent). 

Nonemergency duties include training, administrative activities, or performing other functions 

that are not related to an emergency incident. Six-year historical perspectives concerning the 

percentage of firefighter deaths that occurred during emergency duty are presented in Table 7 

and Table 8. 

Table 5. Fatalities While Performing Table 6. Fatalities While Performing 

Emergency Duty without WTC Emergency Duty Including the WTC 

Percent 

65% 

35% 

Number 

66 

36 

Type of Duty 

Emergency 

Nonemergency 

Percent 

92% 

8% 

Number 

407 

36 

Type of Duty 

Emergency 

Nonemergency 

Table 7. Emergency Duty Fatalities without WTC 

Year Percentage of All Fatalities 

2001 65% 

2000 71% 

1999 87% 

1998 77% 

1997 81% 

1996 72% 

Table 8. Emergency Duty Fatalities Including WTC 

Year Percentage of All Fatalities 

2001 92% 

2000 71% 

1999 87% 

1998 77% 

1997 81% 

1996 72% 

The number of deaths by type of duty being performed in 2001 is shown in Figure 3 and Table 9. 

As in previous years, the largest number of deaths occurred during fireground operations. There 

were 379 fireground deaths, which accounted for 85.5 percent of the fatalities. This number is 

impacted by the 341 New York City firefighters killed at the WTC. 

11 
Figure 3. Fatalities by Type of Duty 

Not Including WTC 

Fireground Operations

Responding/Returning from Alarm

Other On Duty

Training

Non-fire Emergencies

After an Incident 1% Total Fatalities 102 

37% 

22% 

14% 

4% 

23% 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Percent of Deaths 

(Total does not equal 100% due to rounding) 

Table 9. Fatalities by Type of Duty Including WTC 

Type of Duty 

Fireground Operations 

Responding/Returning from Alarm 

Other On Duty 

Training 

Nonfire Emergencies 

After an Incident 

Total 

Percent 

86% 

5% 

5% 

3% 

1% 

0% 

100% 

Number 

379 

23 

22 

14 

4 

1 

443 

Fireground Operations 

Of the 379 fireground deaths, 341 were New

York City firefighters who were crushed in the

collapse of the WTC towers. Three additional

firefighters were killed when they were

crushed by building collapses, 2 in New York

City on Father's Day and 1 in a Wisconsin

restaurant fire that was caused by arson.

Asphyxiation claimed the lives of 14 firefighters

and 12 were killed by heart attacks suffered

on the fireground. Four firefighters were fatally burned. Internal trauma from injuries

received on fire incident scenes claimed the

lives of 5 firefighters in 2001 -- 3 firefighters were Table 10. Fatalities While

killed in 2 wildland aircraft crashes; 1 firefighter Responding to or Returning

was struck and killed by a falling tree at a wild- from an Incident

land fire; and 1 firefighter was struck by a vehicle at the scene of a vehicle fire.

Responding/Returning 

Twenty-three firefighters died while responding to or returning from 

emergency incidents in 2001 (Table 10). This has been the second leading type of duty in which firefighter deaths have occurred each year 

Year Number of 

Fatalities 

2001 23 

2000 19 

1999 26 

1998 14 

1997 21 

1996 22 

12 TYPE OF DUTY 
since 1993. In 2001, 20 of the 23 firefighter 

deaths that occurred while responding to or 

returning from an incident involved volunteer 

firefighters. Three career firefighters died while 

responding or returning -- a Florida firefighter 

suffered a heart attack when his station was 

dispatched on an incident. He was exercising 

in a field next to the station and ran toward 

the station when he heard the alert tone. A 

tion drugs in his system. 

nificant amount of illegal nonprescripsion while responding in 2001 had a sigfighter who was killed in a vehicle colliblood alcohol level of .19 and a firecollision while responding in 2001 had a 

A firefighter who was killed in a vehicle 

Connecticut firefighter died of a heart attack as he was backing vehicles into the station after a 

response and an Illinois firefighter was killed when he was crushed by his engine company apparatus as it backed down a bridge at the conclusion of an incident. 

Of the 20 volunteer firefighters who died while responding or returning, 11 were deaths due to 

trauma. Five firefighters died of injuries received while responding to incidents in their personal 

vehicles; 3 firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) collisions while responding in Kentucky, 

Missouri, and West Virginia; 2 firefighters were killed while responding to incidents in fire department vehicles other than tankers; and 1 firefighter died when he was struck by a passing vehicle 

as he directed traffic at a fire station to allow returning fire apparatus to back into the station. 

Heart attacks claimed 9 volunteer firefighters as they were responding to or returning from incidents. Four deaths involved firefighters who experienced heart attacks while responding in fire 

apparatus; 3 volunteer firefighters killed by heart attacks were fire police officers responding to 

incidents; 1 firefighter collapsed in the fire station as he prepared for a response; and 1 firefighter experienced a heart attack in his personal vehicle after leaving the fire station after an extended incident. 

The USFA is presently engaged in two project initiatives that will provide information about the 

safe operation of emergency vehicles (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/insideusfa/vehicle.cfm). A project on the safe operation of fire department tankers (tenders) will 

examine firefighter deaths in tanker crashes and recommend steps to be taken to improve the 

safety of firefighters responding in tankers; operating tankers safely at the scene of an emergency; and design steps that will improve tanker safety. A second initiative will address the safety of firefighters in all emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire apparatus, and privately 

owned vehicles, as well as safety on the scene of an incident in proximity to a roadway. 

Completion of the tanker project is expected in 2002, and the second project should be complete in 2003. 

Other On Duty 

Twenty-two deaths occurred in 2001 during other on duty activities. This total includes 9 firefighters who died of heart attacks while working in or around the fire station while on duty; 3 firefighters who were injured in falls; 3 firefighters who were killed during a maintenance check flight of 

their helicopter; 1 firefighter who was killed when a large portion of a tree fell on her ambulance 

as firefighters were checking fire hydrants; 1 firefighter who was electrocuted while working on 

an electrical fixture in the fire station; 1 firefighter who suffered head trauma while cleaning up 

TYPE OF DUTY 13 
after a fire department carnival; 1 firefighter who was killed when a tire blew out on a tanker 

(tender) that he was driving back to his district after maintenance; 1 firefighter who was shot and 

killed by another firefighter as he prepared to escort the firefighter to a meeting; 1 firefighter who 

was killed in a vehicle collision while driving to a meeting; and 1 firefighter who was struck and 

killed by a water tank that went airborne after being overpressurized. 

Training 

Fourteen firefighters died in 2001 during training activities (Table 11). 

Nine of the training deaths involved heart attacks that were suffered 

during training, including 2 deaths during physical fitness training and 2 

deaths during return to duty or annual recertification tests. One firefighter was killed when he fell from an aerial ladder during training; 1 firefighter drowned during dive rescue training; 1 firefighter injured his back during training and died of surgical complications; 1 firefighter was killed in 

a motorcycle collision as he returned to the fire station after an offsite 

training session; and 1 firefighter was caught and trapped by fire 

progress in a structural live-fire training exercise. 

Nonfire Emergencies 

Table 11. Fatalities During 

Training 

Year Number of 

Fatalities 

2001 14 

2000 13 

1999 3 

1998 12 

1997 5 

1996 6 

Four firefighters were killed in 2001 in association with their duties on the scene on nonfire emergencies. Two firefighters drowned while they were attempting to recover the body of a boater 

in a rapidly flowing stream; 1 firefighter suffered severe head pain at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, went home, and experienced a fatal CVA (stroke); and 1 firefighter was struck by a 

vehicle as he directed traffic at a vehicle crash. 

After an Incident 

One firefighter died in 2001 after the conclusion of an incident. The firefighter died of a heart 

attack. The firefighter had returned home from a small structural fire, got ready for work, and 

departed for work in his personal vehicle. He suffered a heart attack, ran off the road, and hit a 

fence. 

Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Deaths by Type of Duty 

Figure 4 and Table 12 depict career, volunteer, and wildland firefighter deaths by type of duty. 

Wildland career, wildland seasonal, and wildland contractor deaths are grouped together. As 

in past years, there was a disproportionate number of fatalities experienced by volunteer firefighters responding to and returning from alarms as compared to career and wildland firefighters. In 2001, over 31 percent of volunteer firefighter deaths occurred while responding to or 

returning from emergencies. In comparison, 11 percent of the non-WTC career deaths and none 

of the wildland deaths occurred while responding or returning. 

14 TYPE OF DUTY 
Figure 4. Career, Volunteer & Wildland Fatalities by Type of Duty 

Not including WTC 10 

Fireground Operations 9 

19 

0 Non-fire Emergencies 

0 

4 

Responding Returning 

0 

3 20 

Training 0 

5 

9 

9

Other On Duty 10 

3 Career 

0 Volunteer 

After Incident 1 Wildland 

0 

0 5 10 15 20 

Number of Fatalities 

The large number of career firefighter Table 12. Career, Volunteer & Wildland Fatalities by Type of Duty Including WTC

deaths while on duty, but not 

involved in an incident or training 

activity, may be attributed to the 

fact that career firefighters are on 

duty for longer periods of time than 

volunteer firefighters. The on duty 

periods for volunteer firefighters generally are related to an emergency 

Type of Duty Career Volunteer Wildland 

Fireground Operations 351 19 9 

Nonfire Emergencies 0 4 0 

Responding Returning 3 20 0 

Training 5 9 0 

Other On Duty 9 10 3 

After Incident 0 1 0 

incident or other official functions such as training. Some volunteer fire departments staff stations 

overnight (similar to a career department) but their numbers are small when compared to the 

total number of volunteer fire departments. 

TYPE OF DUTY 15 
Type of Emergency Duty 

In 2001, 402 firefighters died while engaged directly in emergency service delivery. This number 

includes deaths that were the result of injuries sustained on the incident scene or en route to the 

incident scene, and firefighters that 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 while returning from an incident). Figure 5 and Table 13 show the percentage of firefighters 

killed in firefighting, emergency medical services, technical rescue-related incidents, and other 

emergency incidents. 

Figure 5. Fatalities by Type of Emergency Duty 

80% 

13% 

3% 

3% 

Other Total Fatalities 61 

Technical Rescue 

Emergency Medical 

Firefighting 

Not Including WTC 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENT 

(Total does not equal 100% due to rounding) 

Table 13. Fatalities by Type of Emergency Duty Including WTC 

Type of Emergency Duty 

Emergency Medical 

Technical Rescue 

Firefighting 

Other 

Total 

Percent 

2% 

1% 

97% 

1% 

101%* 

Number 

8 

2 

390 

2 

402 

*Total does not equal 100% due to rounding. 

Forty-nine firefighters were killed in relation to fires; 8 firefighters were killed in relation to EMS calls; 

2 firefighters were killed while engaged in a technical rescue; 1 firefighter died while responding 

to a false alarm; and 1 firefighter died when a tree crushed his vehicle as he responded to a 

severe weather standby. The 341 firefighters killed in the WTC incident raises the number of firefighters killed in association with fire incidents to 390. 

16 TYPE OF DUTY 
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 usually is the result of a 

chain of events, the first of which is recorded as the cause. 

In 2001, a firefighter in California was struck and killed by a water tank. The fire apparatus that 

he was operating was parked next to a water storage tank. Pressure from the pump on the 

pumper over pressurized the water tank, causing it to fail at the bottom, rocket into the air, and 

then fall on top of the cab of the pumper. The firefighter was hit by the failing tank. The cause 

of his fatal injury is recorded as "struck by a falling object," and the nature of the fatal injury is listed as "trauma." 

Similarly, if a wildland firefighter was overrun by a fire and died of burns, the cause of death would 

be listed as "caught/trapped" by fire progress, and the nature of death would be "burns." This follows the convention used in the NFIRS casualty reports. 

Figure 6 and Table 14 shows the distribution of deaths by cause of fatal injury or illness. 

Figure 6. Fatalities by Cause of Fatal Injury 

21% 

1% 

41% 

3% 

4% 

6% 

18% 

7% 

Not Including WTC 

Stress/Overexertion 

Caught or Trapped 

Vehicle Collision 

Struck By 

Other 

Collapse 

Fall 

Assault Total Fatalities 102 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENT 

(Total does not equal 100% due to rounding) 

17
Table 14. Fatalities by Cause of Fatal Injury Including WTC 

Cause Number Percent 

Stress/Overexertion 345 78% 

Caught or Trapped 42 10% 

Vehicle Collision 21 5% 

Struck By 18 4% 

Other 7 2% 

Collapse 6 1% 

Fall 3 0% 

Assault 1 0% 

Total 443 100% 

Of the 341 firefighters killed in the WTC incident, all are assumed to have been killed by the structural collapse of the two towers. Certainly, the possibility exists that many firefighters were struck 

with falling objects and killed prior to being struck by the towers or firefighters may have died of 

heart attacks shortly before the collapses. Details about the exact circumstances of the firefighters killed that day may never be known. 

Stress or Overexertion 

If the deaths of 102 firefighters across the United States are analyzed, the largest cause category is stress or overexertion, which 

was listed as the primary factor in 41.2 percent of the deaths --

the lowest percentage since at least 1997 (Table 15). 

Firefighting is extremely strenuous physical work and is likely one 

of the most physically demanding activities that the human 

body performs. 

Most firefighter deaths attributed to stress result from heart 

attacks. Of the 42 stress-related fatalities in 2001, 41 firefighters 

Year Number Percent of Fatalities 

2001 42 41%* 

2000 

1999 

1998 

45 

54 

42 

44% 

49% 

46% 

1997 40 43% 

1996 47 50% 

Table 15. Fatalities Caused by Stress 

or Overexertion 

*WTC fatalities not included 

died of heart attacks, and 1 died of a CVA (stroke). Eighteen of the 41 deaths for which the 

cause of the fatal injury is listed as stress/overexertion occurred during nonemergency activities. 

These issues will be explored in more detail in the Special Topics section of this report. 

Caught or Trapped 

The second leading cause of firefighter fatal injuries in 2001 was 

being caught or trapped. Twenty-one firefighters were killed 

when caught or trapped in 20013

. This number is dramatically 

higher than the total for any of the past 5 years (Table 16). 

In 2001, 4 Washington firefighters were killed when they were 

trapped by the rapid progress of a wildland fire. The fire overcame their position; the firefighters deployed their fire shelters, 

Table 16. Fatalities Caused by Being 

Caught or Trapped 

*WTC fatalities not included 

Year Number Percent of Fatalities 

2001 21 21%* 

2000 

1999 

1998 

16 

11 

16 

16% 

10% 

18% 

1997 11 12% 

1996 7 7% 

3 Does not include the firefighter fatalities of September 11th in New York City. 

18 CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY 
and while many in the group survived, four did

not. Two Illinois firefighters were killed as they

worked in the basement of a house searching

for fire. When the ceiling was pulled, the fire

progressed quickly and trapped both firefighters. Two Missouri firefighters were killed when

they became disoriented in a residential structure fire and became lost. Two Pennsylvania

firefighters drowned while attempting a body

recovery in a fast moving stream, and 1 firefighter drowned during dive rescue training. A

New York firefighter was killed when a structural training fire progressed quickly and trapped

him and 2 other firefighters in the second story

of an acquired structure. Two firefighters, 1 in New Jersey and 1 in Ohio, were killed after falling

through floors in residential occupancies and becoming trapped in the basement. Five firefighters in separate incidents became disoriented and lost inside structures that were involved with

fire. A South Carolina firefighter was trapped by a falling garage door and sustained fatal burns.

A Tennessee wildland firefighter received fatal burns when a fire spread rapidly and overcame

his position.

Vehicle Collisions 

The third leading cause of fatal injury for firefighters who died in 2001 was vehicle collisions. This 

cause is usually the second most common cause of firefighter fatalities. 

Six wildland aircraft firefighters were killed in 2001 in 3 separate incidents. Three firefighters were 

killed when their helicopter crashed during a maintenance flight; 2 firefighters died when their air 

tankers collided over a fire; and 1 firefighter was killed in the crash of a single-engine air tanker. 

Twelve firefighters were killed as the result of nonaircraft crashes. Six firefighters were killed in collisions involving their personal vehicles. Four firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) collisions. 

One firefighter was killed in a crash involving a pumper, and 1 died in the crash of a command 

vehicle responding to an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) incident. 

Struck by Object 

Being struck by an object was the fourth leading cause of fatal firefighter injuries in 2001. There 

were 7 deaths in this category, including 3 firefighters who were struck and killed by vehicles as 

they directed traffic. Three firefighters were killed by falling trees -- a firefighter in Ohio was killed 

when a large portion of a tree fell on her ambulance; a Montana firefighter was killed when a 

dead tree fell and struck him on the head and shoulder; and a Michigan firefighter was killed 

when a tree fell on his personal vehicle as he responded to a storm watch call out. 

CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY 19 
A California firefighter was killed when an overpressurized water tank exploded and crashed into 

the cab of the fire truck he was operating. 

Structural Collapse 

Outside of the 341 firefighters killed by structural collapses in New York City on September 11, 4 

firefighters were killed due to collapses in 2001. Three New York City firefighters were killed when 

a major explosion occurred in a hardware store and resulted in collapse of the building; 1 firefighter was trapped in the basement and 2 firefighters were killed by a falling wall. A Wisconsin 

firefighter was killed when he was trapped under debris from a structural collapse. 

Falls 

Three firefighters died in 2001 as the result of falls. Two firefighters fell while performing station 

duties, and 1 firefighter was killed when he fell backwards from a fire department aerial ladder 

during training. 

Assault 

One firefighter died in an assault. The Colorado assistant chief arrived at the home of a captain 

to escort him to a prearranged meeting with the fire chief. The assistant chief was shot by the 

captain, who then turned the gun on himself. 

Other 

Six firefighters died in circumstances that do not fit into any of the categories discussed above. 

A Missouri firefighter slipped on ice as he entered the fire station; surgery was necessary to repair 

damage from the fall and a surgical error claimed his life. A Florida firefighter was electrocuted 

as he worked on a lighting fixture in the fire station; an Illinois firefighter was killed when he was 

crushed by his engine company as the apparatus was backed down a bridge after an incident; 

a New Jersey firefighter was killed when he slid down a rain-soaked carnival ride at a fire department function and sustained a fatal head injury; a Missouri firefighter died in his sleep of a seizure; 

and a firefighter in Washington died of an abnormal heart rhythm at a wildland fire. 

20 CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY 
NATURE OF FATAL INJURY

Figure 7 and Table 17 show the distribution of fatalities by the medical nature of the fatal injury or 

illness. Due to the WTC tragedy, the leading nature of firefighter deaths for 2001 was crushing 

traumatic injuries. In addition to the 341 firefighters who were presumed to have been crushed 

in the collapse of the towers, 6 other firefighters were killed when they were crushed in 2001. 

Figure 7. Nature of Fatal Injury 

Not Including WTC 

Heart Attack 

Internal Trauma 

Asphyxiation (includes drowning) 

Crushed 

Burns 

Other 

41% 

4% 

4% 

18% 

27% 

6% 

Total Fatalities 102 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENT 

Table 17. Nature of Fatal Injury Including WTC 

Nature 

Crushed 

Heart Attack 

Internal Trauma 

Asphyxiation (includes drowning) 

Burns 

Other 

Total 

Percent 

78% 

10% 

6% 

4% 

1% 

1% 

100% 

Number 

347 

42 

28 

18 

4 

4 

443 

Heart Attacks 

The leading nature of death in 2001 outside of the WTC tragedy was heart attacks, which 

accounted for 42 firefighter fatalities (Figure 8). 

Figure 8. Heart Attacks by Type of Duty 

Fire Scene

Responding/Returning

Training

Other On Duty

After

29% 

2% 

24% 

26% 

19% 

Total Fatalities 42 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENT 

21 
Twelve of the heart attacks occurred at the 

fire scene. Eleven occurred as firefighters 

were responding to or returning from incidents, several of which resulted in subsequent 

crashes. Ten heart attacks occurred during 

training, up sharply from the seven deaths in 

2000 and the single such event in 1999. Eight 

heart attacks occurred during other on duty 

situations, and 1 occurred after an incident. In 

2001, there were no heart attacks at nonfire 

emergencies, down from 6 such deaths in 

2000. 

Internal Trauma 

Internal trauma was the next leading nature of death, 

responsible for 28 deaths (Table 18). This total includes 18 

firefighters killed in apparatus, personal vehicles, and aircraft crashes; 3 firefighters struck by vehicles; 3 firefighters 

killed in falls; 1 firefighter struck by an exploding water 

tank; 1 firefighter killed by gunfire; 1 wildland firefighter 

who was struck and killed by a falling tree; and 1 firefighter killed on a carnival ride. 

Asphyxiation 

Asphyxiation was the third leading medical reason for 

firefighter deaths in 2001 if the WTC deaths are not included. Eighteen firefighters died due to asphyxiation in 2001 

(see Table 19). Four firefighters were killed while fighting a 

wildland fire in Washington when their positions were 

overrun: all 4 died of asphyxiation. Two firefighters died in 

each of two residential structure fires in Illinois and 

Missouri. Two firefighters drowned in Pennsylvania during 

an attempted body recovery, and 1 firefighter drowned 

Table 18. Internal Trauma Fatalities 

Table 19. Fatalities Due to Asphyxiation 

Year Number of Fatalities 

2001 28 

2000 36 

1999 25 

1998 27 

1997 32 

1996 32 

Year Number of Fatalities 

2001 18 

2000 13 

1999 16 

1998 15 

1997 15 

1996 5 

while training. Six firefighters died in separate incidents when they became lost or trapped by fire 

progress in structure fires. One New York firefighter was killed in a structural training burn. 

Burns 

Four of the 102 non-WTC firefighter fatalities 

that occurred in 2001 were attributed to burns. 

Two firefighters fell into burning basements 

when the floor on the ground level broke 

through. One firefighter was trapped under a 

fallen garage door in a residential structure 

injuries. 

days prior to succumbing to their 

firefighters survived an average of 41 

2001 but did not die immediately. 

Three firefighters received fatal burns in 

The 

22 NATURE OF FATAL INJURY 
fire and fatally burned. A Tennessee firefighter was killed when fire overran his position and 

he was unable to escape to a safe zone. 

Crushed 

The WTC incident claimed the lives of 341 firefighters who were crushed when the towers

collapsed. Six other firefighters were killed in

2001 when they were crushed. Two New York

City firefighters were crushed by a collapsing

wall at a hardware store fire; 1 firefighter was

crushed by a falling tree as she rode in the

front right seat of an ambulance; 1 firefighter was crushed by a falling tree as he responded in

his personal vehicle to a storm call out; 1 firefighter was crushed by his apparatus as he directed

the driver off of a bridge at the conclusion of an incident; and a Wisconsin firefighter was crushed

under debris at a restaurant fire.

Other 

Four firefighters were killed in situations where the nature of their fatal injuries does not fit into any 

of the categories described above. A New Mexico firefighter suffered a CVA (stroke) after returning home from an extended vehicle crash incident; a Florida firefighter was electrocuted while 

working on a lighting fixture; a Missouri firefighter fell on ice as he was walking into the fire station 

and died later from a surgical error that was made during surgery to repair broken bones; and a 

Missouri firefighter died of a seizure. 

NATURE OF FATAL INJURY 23 
FIREFIGHTERS’ AGES

Figure 9 shows the distribution of firefighter deaths by age and nature of the fatal injury and Table 

20 provides counts of firefighter fatalities by age and the nature of the fatal injury. 

As in most years, younger firefighters were more likely to have died as a result of traumatic injuries 

such as injuries from an apparatus accident or after becoming caught or trapped during firefighting operations. Stress plays an increasing role in firefighter deaths as age increases as shown 

in Figure 9. 

Figure 9. Fatalities by Age and Nature 

Age Categories 

Under 21 0% 

0% 

70% 

30% 

40% 

60% 

71% 

29% 

50% 

50% 

73% 

27% 

39% 

76% 

61% 

24% 

100% 

21 to 25 100% 

26 to 30 

31 to 35 

36 to 40 

41 to 45 

46 to 50 

51 to 60 

61 and over 

Total Fatalities 102 

Trauma/Asphyxiation 

Heart Attack/CVA 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENT 

25
Table 20. Firefighters’ Ages and Nature of Fatalities Including WTC 

AGE 

Under 21 21 to 25 26 to 30 31 to 35 36 to 40 41 to 45 46 to 50 51 to 60 61+ 

WTC Deaths 0 6 36 69 74 76 47 27 6 

Non-WTC Deaths 3 7 10 5 17 10 15 18 17 

Non-Trauma Total 0 0 3 3 5 5 4 11 13 

Trauma Total 3 13 43 71 86 81 58 34 10 

The median age of the 443 firefighters 

killed in 2001 was 41.6. 

at age 18. 

was Karen Lee FitzPatrick of Washington 

The youngest firefighter killed in 2001 

26 FIREFIGHTERS’ AGES
FIXED PROPERTY USE FOR STRUCTURAL

FIREFIGHTING DEATHS

There were 27 firefighter fatalities in 2001 where the firefighter became ill or was injured on the 

scene or engaged in structural firefighting and the fixed property use was known. Table 21 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 17 deaths. 

Table 22 shows the number of firefighter deaths in residential occupancies for the last 6 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.4 Historically, the frequency of firefighter deaths 

in relation to the number of fires is much higher for nonresidential structures. 

Table 21. Structural Firefighting Fatalities by Fixed Property Use 

Fixed Property Use Number Percent

Residential 17 63%

Commercial 10 37%

Table 22. Firefighter Fatalities in Residential Occupancies 

Number of Firefighter Fatalities 

17 

21 

23 

17 

16 

19 

Year 

2001 

2000 

1999 

1998 

1997 

1996 

4 Complete 2001 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. 

27 
TYPE OF ACTIVITY

Figure 10 and Table 23 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. 

Figure 10. Fatalities by Type of Activity 

13% 

3% 

34% 

5% 

8% 

8% 

13% 

13% 

3% 

Not Including 

Fire Attack 

Search & Rescue 

Cutting Fire Breaks (Wildland) 

Water Supply 

Flying Aircraft 

Ventilation 

Support 

Scene Safety 

Overhaul Total Fatalities 38 

WTC 

0 20 40 60 80 100

PERCENT 

Table 23. Fatalities by Type of Activity Including WTC 

Nature 

Search and Rescue 

Fire Attack 

Cutting Fire Breaks (Wildland) 

Water Supply 

Flying Aircraft 

Ventilation 

Support 

Scene Safety 

Overhaul 

Total 

Percent 

91% 

3% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

0% 

0% 

99%* 

Number 

346 

13 

5 

5 

3 

3 

2 

1 

1 

379 

*Total does not equal 100% due to rounding. 

29
Search and Rescue 

Thirty-eight firefighters died on the fireground in 2001 in incidents other than the WTC. 

Five firefighters died in 2001 while engaged in search and rescue activities. A Houston Captain 

was killed as he searched for occupants in a residential highrise fire; a New Jersey firefighter 

became trapped by fire progress as he searched for fire victims on the third floor of a residential 

occupancy; a New York City firefighter was trapped by an explosion in a hardware store as he 

searched; and two firefighters, one in Ohio and one in New Jersey, were trapped in burning 

basements after falling through the floor in residential fires. 

Table 24. Fatalities While Engaged in 

Fire Attack Fire Attacks 

Thirteen 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 occur 

while the firefighter is engaged in fire attack (see Table 24). All 

13 deaths in 2001 occurred at structure fires. 

Cutting Fire Breaks 

Five firefighters died in 2001 cutting fire breaks engaged in wildland firefighting. Four Washington 

firefighters took refuge from their duties as the fire approached, but their position was overrun. 

One Tennessee firefighter was burned when a fire progressed rapidly up a natural drainage and 

overran his position. 

Water Supply 

Five firefighters died in 2001 while engaged in water supply duties. All five deaths were heartrelated. All five were operating fire apparatus -- a Washington firefighter was assigned pump 

operations duties at a boat fire and collapsed of a heart attack; a Pennsylvania firefighter suffered a heart attack as he made hose connections to a pumper; a Washington firefighter died 

of an abnormal heart rhythm while operating a tanker (tender) at a wildland fire; a Florida firefighter died while operating a pump at a fire involving a manufactured house; and a Wisconsin 

firefighter suffered a heart attack at the scene of a vehicle fire. 

Operating Aircraft 

Three firefighters died while operating aircraft. Two air tankers collided in midair during a wildfire 

in California and a single-engine air tanker crashed during an Idaho wildland firefight. The three 

firefighters who died when their helicopter crashed are not included in this total since they were 

performing maintenance duties. 

Ventilation 

Three firefighters died while performing ventilation duties. All three were New York City firefighters. Two firefighters were killed on Father's Day when the wall of a hardware store collapsed on 

Year Number of Fatalities 

2001 13 

2000 13 

1999 16 

1998 18 

1997 21 

1996 9 

30 TYPE OF ACTIVITY 
them as the result of an explosion. A New York City firefighter died of a heart attack after completing ventilation duties at the scene of an apartment building fire. 

Support 

Two firefighters were killed in 2001 as they supported firefighting efforts. A Montana firefighter was 

killed by a falling tree as he cut down trees in preparation for work in the area by hand crews. A 

Maryland firefighter collapsed of a heart attack as he opened gates for firefighters responding 

to a mulch fire near a facility where he was employed as a caretaker. 

Scene Safety 

One firefighter was killed as he assured the 

safety of a fire scene. A New York firefighter 

was killed when he was struck by a passing 

vehicle as he directed traffic at a vehicle fire. 

Overhaul 

tion. 

or while controlling traffic near a fire stacles while on the scene of an incident 

been killed after being struck by vehiSince 1996, at least 26 firefighters have 

One firefighter suffered a fatal heart attack as he performed overhaul of a lightning-caused 

structure fire in New York. 

TYPE OF ACTIVITY 31 
TIME OF INJURY

The distribution of all 2001 firefighter deaths according to the time of day when the fatal injury 

occurred is illustrated in Figure 11 (six incident times were unable to be determined). 

Figure 11. Fatalities by Time of Fatal Injury 

Time 

0100 - 0259 

0300 - 0459 

0500 - 0659 

0700 - 0859 

0900 - 1059 

1100 - 1259 

1300 - 1459 

1500 - 1659 

1700 - 1859 

1900 - 2059 

2100 - 2259 

2300 - 0059 

Unknown 

0 5 10 15 

2 

Total Fatalities 102 

4 

6 

10 

14 

12 

14 

8 

14* 

8 

1 

3 

6 

Fatalities 

*Does not include 341 WTC fatalities. 

33
MONTH OF INJURY

Figure 12 shows firefighter fatalities by month of the year. March, July, and August tied for the 

most firefighter fatalities in a month when the WTC incident is not included. 

Figure 12. Fatalities by Month of Fatal Injury 

Month 

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

10 

Total Fatalities 102 

9 

12 

10 

4 

10 

12 

10* 

5 

12 

4 

4 

0 5 10 15 

Fatalities 

*Does not include 341 WTC fatalities. 

35
STATE AND REGION

The distribution of firefighter deaths by State is shown in Figure 14. Thirty-three States each had 

at least 1 firefighter fatality. New York had the highest number of deaths, even if the WTC incident is not included. Figure 13 shows the firefighter fatalities divided by region of the country and 

their status as career, volunteer, or wildland firefighters. 

Figure 13 also provides information on the ratio of firefighter fatalities per million population in 

each region. Firefighter fatalities for the South are a third of the rate in the Northeast and half the 

rate of the West. 

Figure 13. Firefighter Fatalities by Region 

WEST NORTHEAST 

Career - 8 Career - 350 

Volunteer - 10 NORTHCENTRAL Volunteer - 23 

Wildland - 11 Total - 373 

Total - 29 

.46 FFF/M 

Career - 4 

Volunteer - 20 

Total - 24 

.35 FFF/M 

6.19 AND .53 FFF/M 

(Includes WTC Fatalities) 

SOUTH 

Career - 6 

Volunteer - 10 

Total - 17 

FFF/M = Firefighter Fatalities per Million Population. .19 FFF/M 

37 
Figure 14. 2001 On Duty Firefighter Fatalities 
Table 25 lists fatalities according 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. 

Table 25. Fatalities by State 

2 

1 

2 

1 

5 

5 

1 

4 

1 

1 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1 

1 

1 

6 

2 

353 

1 

2 

4 

8 

1 

1 

2 

4 

6 

2 

4 

Alabama 0.45% 

Alaska 0.22% 

Arizona 0.45% 

Arkansas 0.22% 

California 1.12% 

Colorado 1.12% 

Connecticut 0.22% 

Florida 0.90% 

Hawaii 0.22% 

Idaho 0.22% 

Illinois 1.35% 

Iowa 0.22% 

Kentucky 0.45% 

Maryland 0.67% 

Michigan 0.90% 

Missouri 1.12% 

Montana 0.22% 

Nevada 0.22% 

New Hampshire 0.22% 

New Jersey 1.35% 

New Mexico 0.45% 

New York 79.6% 

North Carolina 0.22% 

Ohio 0.45% 

Oregon 0.90% 

Pennsylvania 1.80% 

Rhode Island 0.22% 

South Carolina 0.22% 

Tennessee 0.45% 

Texas 0.90% 

Washington 1.35% 

West Virginia 0.45% 

Wisconsin 0.90% 

STATE AND REGION 39 
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 one 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 2001 firefighter fatalities (Table 26). These statistics are 

based on answers from the fire departments and, when no data from the department were 

available, the data are based upon population and area served, reported by the fire departments. 

Table 26. Fatalities by Coverage Area Type 

Coverage Area Deaths 

Urban/Suburban 391 

Rural 40 

Federal or State Parks/Wildland 12 

Total 443 

41
CONCLUSIONS

The year 2001 was truly a horrific year for the fire service 

in the United States. This loss was felt by average citizens 

in the United States, members of the fire service around 

the world, and citizens of many nations around the 

world. Words cannot adequately express this loss. 

Four hundred and forty-three firefighters died while on 

duty in the United States in 2001. This total is more than 

four and one-half times the average annual number of 

firefighter deaths for the last decade and is the worst 

total since the USFA began tracking firefighter fatalities in 

1977. 

In early 2002, Fire Administrator R. David Paulison said, 

"2001 was an unprecedented year for America's fire service. In addition to the many local heroes who died serving their communities nationwide, the eyes of the world 

turned to New York City on September 11th. The United 

States Fire Administration is committed to helping firefighters and fire departments respond more safely to 

emergencies that occur in their communities. Terrorism 

has changed our world forever and the old killers of firefighters are still around." 

The USFA has set two major goals for reductions in firefighter fatalities: 

· A 25 percent reduction in on duty firefighter fatalities 

within 5 years. 

· A 50 percent reduction in on duty firefighter fatalities 

within 10 years. 

This report contains two special topics sections that propose some immediate impact steps that can be taken 

to reduce firefighter deaths due to heart disease and 

operational situations. 

43
SPECIAL TOPICS

IMMEDIATE IMPACT - HEART DISEASE 

In 2001, 43 firefighters died as the result of heart attacks that were suffered on duty. Other than 

the WTC tragedy in 2001, heart attacks are the single largest killer of on duty firefighters, causing 

the deaths of 256 firefighters since 1996. Heart attacks claim nearly as many firefighters as are 

killed by internal trauma and asphyxiation combined. 

A commonly held opinion states that drastic lifestyle changes are needed to make any improvement towards the healthiness of a person's heart. This is untrue. There are a number of steps that 

can be taken to immediately improve heart health. The steps proposed in this section are neither expensive nor require major changes in the way that many live their lives. 

IMMEDIATE HEART HEALTH ACTION #1 

HAVE A MEDICAL EXAM 

The key to early discovery and treatment of 

heart disease is a physical examination or 

evaluation. Avoiding an appointment with a 

physician or other medical professional will not 

make heart disease go away by itself. 

Annual medical evaluations are required by 

NFPA 1582, Standard on Medical 

Requirements for Fire Fighters, and Information 

for Fire Department Physicians. The medical 

evaluation consists of a medical history, an 

occupational and exposure history, measurements of height and weight, a blood pressure 

check, and a heart rate and rhythm check. 

The annual evaluation does not necessarily 

need to be performed by a physician. The 

standard allows the evaluation to be performed by a qualified person and reviewed 

by a physician. 

In 2002, President George W. Bush 

kicked off a campaign to provide 

Americans with timely, accurate, free 

health information. 

An internet site has been established at 

www.healthierus.gov 

The site provides information on physical fitness, disease prevention, nutrition, 

and avoiding risky behaviors and making healthy choices. 

vides links to other government sites 

that provide health information. 

The site also proA more thorough medical check is also required by the standard, although the frequency is less 

than annually for younger firefighters. The frequency of this check is dependent upon the firefighter's age. A medical examination is required at least every 3 years for firefighters aged 29 and 

45 
under; at least every 2 years for firefighters aged 30 to 39; and every year for firefighters aged 40 

and above. A physician must perform the medical examination. 

The NFPA 1582 standard also requires that medical evaluations and examinations be performed 

at no cost to the fire department member. Medical evaluations are also required prior to 

becoming a firefighter and prior to returning to duty after an extended absence due to illness or 

other reasons. 

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are the two easiest-to-discover heart disease indicators. 

National Cholesterol Education Project Guidelines 

Total Cholesterol (mg/dl) 

240 or greater 

200-239 

Less than 200 

Classification 

High 

Borderline High 

Desirable 

Many fire departments provide free blood pressure checks for the public. Firefighters should also 

take advantage of that service. Blood pressure checks for the on duty crew should be a regular 

routine in career fire departments. Volunteer fire departments should check blood pressure for 

all members on drill nights or at fire company meetings. Automatic blood pressure machines are 

also standard equipment for many pharmacies and workplace health stations. 

Cholesterol checks should be a standard part of any health examination. Home test kits are also 

available in drug stores (pharmacies) and through the Internet. The cost of these at-home kits is 

generally less than 10 dollars. 

Wellness Initiatives 

USFA has several project efforts in support of reducing firefighter fatalities from heart disease and 

stress. USFA is partnering with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the 

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in two separate projects to support the expansion 

of use of the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative to additional fire 

departments. USFA is supporting the expansion of the use of this initiative that has been successfully tested in several fire departments throughout the United States. 

USFA also is partnering with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to develop a Volunteer 

Fire Service Fitness and Wellness Program. This effort will involve research and development of 

effective programs aimed at the needs of the volunteer firefighter addressing fitness and exercise (aerobic, flexibility, strength, training, etc.); diet; smoking cessation; and other areas that will 

have a positive impact on the volunteer fire service community. Further information on these 

projects can be found on the following page on the USFA Web site: 

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/fitness.cfm. 

46 SPECIAL TOPICS
IMMEDIATE HEART HEALTH ACTION #2 

MODIFY EATING HABITS 

Any steps that are taken to reduce fat intake and avoid foods high in sodium and salt will have 

a positive effect on health. 

High fat diets lead to high blood cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol levels lead to plaque 

in the arteries, including those that provide blood to the heart. Plaque restricts blood flow and 

can eventually lead to heart disease. 

A diet that is lower in fat can reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood stream and can eventually absorb some arterial plaques. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that no 

more than 30 percent of a person's daily caloric intake be from fat. The amount of calories from 

fat is listed on food packaging. 

Salt and sodium have been shown to have links to high blood pressure. Firefighters should monitor their intake of salt and sodium. Food package labels list the amount of sodium per serving. 

The AHA recommends that the intake of sodium and salt be limited to no more than 6 grams per 

day for healthy persons. Salt and sodium intake for those who have been diagnosed with high 

blood pressure may be lower. 

Salt and sodium are pervasive in the American diet. Many processed foods are high in sodium 

and salt. However, there are also many foods, such as canned tomato paste, that are offered 

for sale in reduced sodium versions. 

The AHA (http://www.americanheart.org) has produced a cookbook with recipes for heart 

healthy foods. The American Heart Association Cookbook is available on line for a nominal cost. 

IMMEDIATE HEART HEALTH ACTION #3 

CONSIDER SUPPLEMENTS 

There is no clear consensus on what vitamins and dietary supplements will help prevent heart disease. There has been a great deal of attention paid to the positive role of Vitamin E, aspirin, multivitamins, and fish oil. 

It is extremely important to point out that the benefits, side effects, and possible allergic reactions 

to all of these supplements should be discussed with a physician (see #1 above) prior to taking 

any supplement. 

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may reduce the chances of developing heart disease. 

The AHA does not recommend that Vitamin E be taken as a supplement. The AHA recommends 

that those interested in increased antioxidant intake eat foods that are rich in antioxidants such 

as grains and fruits. 

Aspirin - Aspirin has been used for over a century to relieve pain. A daily dose of aspirin may also 

have some benefits in the prevention of clot development and reduce the likelihood of strokes. 

Aspirin has also been shown to help heart attack sufferers in the minutes after a heart attack. To 

SPECIAL TOPICS 47 
prevent side effects such as indigestion, aspirin should be coated or taken with food when taken 

as a supplement. If aspirin is taken by someone experiencing a heart attack, it should be 

chewed or broken down to aid in its rapid absorption. 

For more information about aspirin as a part of a daily supplement routine, please see the official 

Web site of the AHA at www.americanheart.org and HeartCenterOnline at www.heartcenteronline.com 

Multivitamins - Many Americans, and likely many firefighters, do not follow the daily dietary recommendations of the AHA or other health organizations. One of the benefits of a multivitamin is 

that it may replace vitamins that are missed when an imperfect diet is consumed. If a multivitamin is used as a supplement, studies show that generic or name brands may be used. For additional information, please see the Web site sponsored by HeartCenterOnline at www.heartcenteronline.com 

Fish Oil - The AHA recommends eating fish twice a week. Certain types of fish such as mackerel, 

lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon are also high in omega-3 fatty acids. 

Various studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have positive effects in regulating the 

heart's rhythm, reduce inflammation, and lowering triglycerides in the blood. At this time, the 

AHA is not recommending fish oil supplements for general use until their positive effects are confirmed through further research. 

For more information about the benefits of eating fish and the possible benefits of fish oil supplements, please see the official Web site of the American Heart Association 

www.americanheart.org and www.ornish.com, a site that features the writings of Dr. Dean Ornish, 

a fish oil supplement proponent. 

IMMEDIATE HEART HEALTH ACTION #4 

TAKE A WALK 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, (6th 

Century, B.C.). 

The road to a proper level of physical activity also begins with one step. One does not need to 

run marathons to benefit from the good outcomes of physical exercise. Walking the dog or taking a morning or evening walk around the neighborhood will have positive impacts on your 

health and sense of well-being. Start a daily physical activity program. 

48 SPECIAL TOPICS
IMMEDIATE HEART HEALTH ACTION #5 

QUIT SMOKING 

If a firefighter smokes cigarettes, the single 

most effective step that he or she can take to 

prevent heart disease is to stop smoking. 

While smoking cessation is not easy by any 

means, there are a number of resources available to help: 

NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department 

tribute a fair share to the task at hand. 

tire more easily and be unable to conto tolerate work. Smoking causes one to 

to perform work. 

it reduces lung capacity and the ability 

Smoking affects physical performance, 

It makes one less able 

Occupational Safety and Health Program, requires that fire departments provide their members 

with information on the hazards of tobacco use, including smoking. The standard also requires 

that the fire department provide a smoking cessation program to its members. 

Advances in medications used to help smokers quit have allowed many people to stop the habit. 

Nonetheless, nicotine dependency is a very difficult problem to overcome. Help is available from 

two well-known organizations: the American Cancer Society and the American Lung 

Association. Contact information for both organizations appears at the end of this section. A 

program entitled the "Quit Smoking Action Plan" is available from the American Lung Association 

through the Internet. The Internet sites of both organizations offer a wealth of information on 

smoking cessation programs, the benefits of smoking cessation, and studies on the effectiveness 

of different approaches. Use the site search features and search on the term "smoking cessation." 

The good news is that studies have shown that an individual who quits smoking cuts his/her risk of 

heart disease in half after 1 year of non-smoking. Former smokers that have stopped smoking 

have approximately the same risk of heart disease as a non-smoker after 15 years smoke free. 

American Cancer Society 

1599 Clifton Road, N.E. 

Atlanta, GA 30329 

800-ACT-2345 

www.cancer.org 

American Heart Association 

National Center 

7272 Greenville Avenue 

Dallas, TX 75231 

800-AHA-USA1 

www.americanheart.org 

American Lung Association 

1840 Broadway 

New York, NY 10019 

800-586-4872 

www.lungsusa.org 

SPECIAL TOPICS 49 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT - INCIDENT OPERATIONS 

Every year, a number of firefighters are killed in situations that could have been prevented 

through some simple action or through the provision of an inexpensive piece of equipment. 

The year 2001 was no different than previous years. This section will explore some inexpensive 

ways to make an immediate impact on firefighter safety. This section is based on a similar section that appeared in the "Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000" and will likely be a part of future reports. 

Another new resource that has become available on the Internet is a Web site where firefighters 

can exchange close call stories without the need to reveal themselves. There is a direct statistical correlation between close calls and incidents that result in injury and death to firefighters. 

Firefighters are encouraged to visit the site, read the stories that are there, learn from the mistakes 

of others, and keep the learning going by sharing personal stories of close calls. The service is free 

and can be found at www.firefighterclosecall.com 

The following list of immediate impact ideas most certainly would have saved the lives of firefighters in 2001, and these same ideas can certainly save the lives of firefighters in the future. 

Most of the ideas proposed in this section can be done without cost. 

IMMEDIATE IMPACT INCIDENT OPERATIONS #1 

SEAT BELT USE 

Five potential saves in 2001: 

A USFA study of water tanker (tender) crashes from 1990 through 2000, found that 73 percent of 

the firefighters killed in these crashes were not wearing their seat belts. Another USFA study of all 

firefighter fatalities from 1990 through 2000 found that only 21 percent of the firefighters who were 

killed in vehicle crashes were wearing seat belts. 

Firefighters preach the benefits of seat belt use to the public but we often fail to take our own 

advice. 

The following are suggestions to improve the use of seat belts by firefighters: 

· Adopt a fire department policy that mandates the use of seat belts in all fire department 

vehicles and in the personal vehicles of volunteer firefighters during their response to an incident and their return from an incident. 

· Make company and chief officers responsible for the seat belt use of firefighters under their 

command. 

· Place signs in vehicles that remind firefighters of their responsibility to use seat belts. 

50 SPECIAL TOPICS 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT INCIDENT OPERATIONS #2 

MEDICAL SUPPORT 

Two potential saves in 2001: 

In 2001, there were two situations where a firefighter complained of being ill in association 

with an incident response or training. Both firefighters had to be talked into seeking medical 

aid. One firefighter died later of a CVA 

(stroke) and the other died of a heart attack. 

A firefighter that exhibits distress in any manner 

should be evaluated by an ALS-level EMS 

provider and transported to the hospital if 

there is any question about the firefighter's 

health. It should be the responsibility of the 

company and chief officers on the scene to 

direct a distressed firefighter to submit to treatment. 

Many fire departments have EMS standby on 

the scene of incidents and training. These 

resources should be used to provide care for 

your workout. 

Drink water before, during, and after 

and make it available for all firefighters. 

Carry bottled water on fire apparatus 

tain caffeine (coffee, soda). 

Avoid sweet drinks and those that conPrehydrate, drink water all day long. 

water a day. 

Drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of 

need for water. 

Thirst is an unreliable indicator of your 

Hydration 

firefighters and civilians. EMS personnel can also be used as part of an onscene rehabilitation system. The rehabilitation (rehab) system should check the medical vital signs of firefighters as they 

rest and provide them with water to assure adequate hydration. 

IMMEDIATE IMPACT INCIDENT OPERATIONS #3 

WORK IN TEAMS 

Three potential saves in 2001: 

OSHA and NFPA standards require that firefighters working in hazardous areas work in teams of 

at least two. In three instances in 2001, firefighters were working alone and were cut off from 

escape by falling debris or fire progress. 

One of the main purposes of having firefighters work in teams is to allow each firefighter to monitor the safety of the other firefighter and be able to provide assistance if the other firefighter gets 

into trouble. If sufficient staffing has not arrived on the scene to allow firefighters entering the hazardous zone to do so in teams of at least two firefighters, no one should enter the hazardous zone. 

SPECIAL TOPICS 51
IMMEDIATE IMPACT INCIDENT OPERATIONS #4 

RESPONSE POLICIES FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES 

Four potential saves in 2001: 

Each year, including 2001, firefighters are killed in collisions involving their personal vehicles as 

they respond to emergencies. The vast majority of these firefighters are volunteers. By their very 

nature, volunteer fire departments deploy as firefighters respond from their homes or places of 

business to the fire station or directly to the incident scene. 

Depending upon State laws, firefighters may be granted permission to have warning lights and 

sirens on their personal vehicles, they may be allowed to display a courtesy light which requests 

the right of way from other drivers, or they may not be allowed any warning devices at all. Some 

States allow firefighters in properly equipped personal vehicles to obey the same traffic laws that 

apply to other emergency vehicles. Courtesy lights do not usually allow firefighters to proceed 

through red traffic signals or perform other maneuvers reserved for emergency vehicles. 

A natural inclination exists to get to the fire station or the fire scene quickly. Many of the firefighter deaths while responding in personal vehicles are the result of excessive speed or traffic maneuvers, such as crossing the centerline to pass another vehicle. 

The following suggestions may help to improve the safety of firefighters as they respond in their 

personal vehicles: 

· Adopt a fire department policy on responses in emergency vehicles and provide information 

on the policy to all firefighters. The policy should include information on permissible actions 

and those that are not permitted during responses. 

· Company and chief officers who observe unsafe driving should remind the offending firefighter of the department's policy on response. Firefighters who do not obey the policy should 

face disciplinary action that may include suspension from emergency response. 

· Radio messages that remind firefighters to respond safely may be included in the dispatch 

message. 

· Limit response speed to the posted speed limit. The maximum speed should be lower than 

the posted limit in situations, such as extreme weather, when driving may be more difficult. 

52 SPECIAL TOPICS
APPENDIX A

SUMMARY OF 2001 INCIDENTS 

If additional information is available regarding a firefighter fatality, the reader is directed to these 

sources. Where possible, hyperlinks that direct the reader to additional information are provided. Hyperlinks operate in the digital version of this report and appear in all versions as underlined 

text. If links have expired or if the reader does not have Internet access, contact information for 

these sources is provided at the end of the Appendix when available. 

January 1, 2001- 2:45 a.m. 

James Thomas Heenan, Firefighter 

Age 37, Volunteer

Verga Fire Company #1, West Deptford Township, New Jersey

Firefighters were dispatched to reports of a structure fire in a 11⁄2 -story residence. Upon his arrival, 

the Fire Chief observed a glow from the basement, heavy smoke conditions, and fire visible from 

the rear kitchen windows. A car parked in front of the house and reports from neighbors that the 

house was occupied led the Chief to believe that rescue was needed. 

Upon the arrival of the first engine company, the Chief ordered two firefighters to enter the rear 

of the structure to perform a primary search of the structure. Firefighter Heenan was first through 

the door. As soon as he entered the kitchen, the floor collapsed into the basement. Firefighter 

Heenan, who was wearing full protective clothing and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 

(SCBA), fell into the burning basement. 

Rescue efforts were begun immediately by firefighters who entered the basement through an 

outside door. Firefighter Heenan was located immediately, but his removal was delayed by the 

fact that Firefighter Heenan was trapped under the debris of the kitchen that had fallen into the 

basement. Firefighters were assisted in locating Firefighter Heenan by the sounding of his 

Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device. Firefighter Heenan was conscious and guided rescuers. 

After significant efforts lasting approximately 20 minutes, Firefighter Heenan was removed from 

the structure. Advanced Life Support (ALS) medical care was provided, and he was transported 

to the hospital. Firefighter Heenan had severe burns over 74% of his body. He was conscious and 

alert upon his arrival at the hospital. 

Firefighter Heenan underwent at least nine surgeries related to his injuries including the amputation of his hands. His condition progressively worsened and he died on March 25, 2001. 

53 
Firefighter Heenan's family was at his side at the time of his death. 

The structure fire that claimed Firefighter Heenan's life was a rekindle of an earlier dryer fire. The 

residents had extinguished the earlier fire and had not called the fire department. At approximately 11:30 p.m., after the original fire was thought to be extinguished, the residents left the 

house. 

January 4, 2001 - 9:00 a.m. 

Gregg J. McLoughlin, Firefighter First Grade 

Age 39, Career

Fire Department City of New York, New York

Firefighter McLoughlin worked the overnight shift on January 3rd at Engine 302 in Queens. On the 

morning of January 4th, he was found by other firefighters in the basement workout room of the 

fire station on the treadmill that he had been using for his workout. It is unknown how long he 

had been ill prior to discovery. 

Firefighter McLoughlin was provided with medical care in the fire station and in the ambulance 

en route to the hospital. Emergency room staff worked for 30 minutes to try to save Firefighter 

McLoughlin but their efforts were fruitless. Firefighter McLoughlin died of a heart attack. 

Firefighter McLoughlin had no personal or family history of heart disease and had passed a full 

medical exam in March of 2000. 

January 9, 2001 - 5:22 p.m. 

Richard Douglas Buongiorne, Firefighter 

Age 48, Volunteer

Kendall Fire Department, New York

Firefighter Buongiorne was directing traffic around a single vehicle collision, which did not cause 

any injuries, but power lines were down. 

A rescue truck was positioned near the roadway, and its emergency lights were activated. 

Firefighter Buongiorne was wearing dark pants and a dark blue winter jacket. 

Firefighter Buongiorne leaned into a van to speak to a driver who had stopped to request permission to turn. As Firefighter Buongiorne stepped back from the van, a passing truck struck him. 

The impact knocked Firefighter Buongiorne to the ground; he slid over 30 feet and stopped under 

a parked pickup truck. 

Firefighters, who arrived on the scene after a report that Firefighter Buongiorne had been struck, 

lifted the pickup off of him. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then later 

moved to a regional trauma center. 

54 APPENDIX A 
Firefighter Buongiorne was pronounced dead at 3:23 a.m. on January 10, 2001. The cause of 

death was multiple trauma. 

The 22-year-old male driver of the vehicle that struck Firefighter Buongiorne was not charged. 

January 10, 2001 - 7:00 p.m. 

Gilmore W. "Butch" Stitley III, Firefighter 

Age 54, Volunteer

Independent Hose Company / Citizens Truck Company, Frederick, Maryland

Firefighter Stitley lived at the Frederick County Fairgrounds and was maintenance supervisor for

the facility. A fire was reported in a municipal mulch yard next door to the fairgrounds. Firefighter

Stitley opened gates to the fairgrounds to allow access for firefighters and met fire apparatus as

it arrived on the scene.

Firefighter Stitley was donning his protective clothing when he suffered a heart attack. ALS medical aid was provided at the scene, and Firefighter Stitley was transported to a local hospital. He

was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

January 11, 2001 - 11:10 a.m. 

Andrew John White, Lieutenant 

Age 27, Volunteer

Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Pennsylvania

Lieutenant White responded to a structure fire involving a manufactured home situated on top 

of a basement. Lieutenant White assisted firefighters operating a hoseline into the basement. 

When the line was withdrawn from the basement, Lieutenant White helped to reposition the line 

and then he and another firefighter advanced the line into the interior of the structure at the first 

floor. 

Conditions in the interior of the structure began to deteriorate, and the decision was made to 

back out. As the firefighters attempted to exit the structure, they became disoriented due to 

loops in the hoseline, heavy smoke, and heat conditions. The firefighters got off the line and 

crawled into a room that had been added to the structure. The firefighters became separated. 

The firefighter who had been with Lieutenant White broke through a window and made it to the 

outside. When he emerged from the structure, the injured firefighter was transported to the hospital. Unknown to firefighters on the scene, Lieutenant White remained in the addition. 

A firefighter from another fire department found Lieutenant White's helmet and gave it to a chief 

officer from Lieutenant White's fire department. A search for Lieutenant White was initiated. 

Firefighters searched the building, and a local hospital was contacted on the chance that 

Lieutenant White had left the scene. 

APPENDIX A 55
After 30 to 40 minutes of searching, Lieutenant White's boots were seen a few feet inside the 

doorway to the addition. Lieutenant White was found bent backwards over the top of a desk. 

Firefighters, including Lieutenant White's father, removed Lieutenant White from the structure. It 

was determined that Lieutenant White had expired. 

Lieutenant White's air supply had been depleted. He was wearing a PASS device, but it was 

found to be in the "off" position. Other firefighters had passed Lieutenant White's position several times during the search but were unable to see him due to smoke conditions. Lieutenant White 

carried a portable radio; it was found in a pocket in the "off" position. 

The cause of death was listed as asphyxiation due to oxygen depletion within the SCBA. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-04. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200104.html) 

January 12, 2001 - 2:20 p.m. 

William Lawrence "Willy" Thompson, Firefighter 

Age 21, Volunteer

Hillsboro Fire Department, Kentucky

Firefighter Thompson was the sole occupant and driver of a tanker (tender) responding to a grass

fire. As the tanker reached a right curve, the vehicle swerved from the right side of the road.

Firefighter Thompson steered it back onto the road surface, crossed the road, and veered to the

left side of the roadway. The apparatus struck an embankment and a telephone pole and rolled

over. Firefighter Thompson was ejected from the vehicle, and the tanker came to rest on top of

him. Firefighter Thompson was not wearing a seat belt.

Firefighter Thompson was the son of Hillsboro Fire Chief William A. Thompson.

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-06.

January 13, 2001 - 8:50 p.m. 

Donald L. Franklin, Firefighter First Grade 

Age 42, Career

Fire Department City of New York, New York

Firefighter Franklin and his ladder company were dispatched to a fire in an apartment building.

Upon their arrival, firefighters found a working fire on the fourth floor of the building. Firefighter

Franklin was assigned the roof position on his company. He ascended the aerial ladder of another ladder company and went to the roof along with the roof position firefighter from a different

ladder company.

The two firefighters forced open the bulkhead door of the fire building and then cut holes in the

roof to provide ventilation. The crew from the other ladder company cut the holes with a power

56 APPENDIX A 
saw. Firefighter Franklin assisted with pulling back roofing materials and pushing ceilings down 

inside the structure. After roof operations were complete, Firefighter Franklin descended the 

stairs to the fire floor and assisted with overhaul for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. 

After overhaul was complete, Firefighter Franklin left the building and talked with other firefighters on the street. He discussed the difficulty in opening the roof and announced that he was tired 

and then dropped to his knees. A firefighter offered Firefighter Franklin oxygen, but he declined 

the offer and walked to a rehab unit that was set up a block away. After getting a drink at the 

rehab unit, Firefighter Franklin returned to his apparatus and sat down. 

A short time later, Firefighter Franklin called to a nearby firefighter for oxygen and said that he 

was not feeling well. Emergency Medical System (EMS) workers on the scene were summoned. 

Firefighter Franklin's condition deteriorated rapidly and he was transported to the hospital by 

ambulance but efforts to aid him were unsuccessful. Firefighter Franklin was pronounced dead 

at 9:39 p.m. The cause of death was listed as hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular 

disease with smoke inhalation as a contributing cause. Two civilians were killed in the fire. 

January 18, 2001 - approximately 1:00 a.m. 

Christopher Towne, Lieutenant 

Age 52, Career

Detroit Fire Department, Michigan

Lieutenant Towne was on duty as the company officer for an engine company. During the shift, 

the company responded to five incidents. Four of the incidents were fire alarms and one was a 

car fire. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Lieutenant Towne went to bed. At 1:18 a.m., Lieutenant 

Towne's engine company was dispatched on a box alarm. 

Crew members waited for a few minutes prior to their response but left without Lieutenant Towne 

when he failed to appear. Upon their return to the station, firefighters found Lieutenant Towne 

unconscious in his bedroom. EMS personnel quartered in the same station were summoned and 

found that Lieutenant Towne was dead. No resuscitation was attempted since Lieutenant Towne 

had obviously been dead for over an hour. 

An autopsy revealed significant coronary artery disease and the cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-21. 

(fire department Web site www.ci.detroit.mi.us/fire/fire.htm) 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200121.html) 

APPENDIX A 57
January 25, 2001 - 7:25 p.m. 

Johnny C. McKinley, Firefighter 

Age 54, Volunteer

Pine Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Alabama

Firefighter McKinley and members of his department responded to a report of a structural fire in 

an abandoned service station. Firefighter McKinley ascended a portable ladder to apply water 

through the gable end of the structure when he was stricken with a heart attack. 

Firefighter McKinley fell about 12 feet to the ground. Firefighters immediately went to his assistance, and emergency medical personnel were called. Firefighter McKinley was transported to 

a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The fire in the service station was a warming fire started by a transient. The 20-year-old man was 

arrested and later charged with arson. 

January 27, 2001 - 4:10 p.m. 

Cecil Frank Smith, Firefighter 

Age 76, Volunteer

Meredith Volunteer Fire Department, New Hampshire

Firefighter Smith was responding to the fire station to handle dispatch duties for a structural fire 

response. Firefighter Smith's wife was a passenger in the vehicle. He was displaying a red flashing light on the dashboard of his personal vehicle. Firefighter Smith approached an intersection 

and prepared to make a left-hand turn to the north. As he arrived at the intersection, the signal 

turned red. 

A driver that had stopped in the southbound lane motioned for Firefighter Smith to proceed 

through the intersection. As he did so, Firefighter Smith's vehicle collided with a second southbound vehicle. The vehicle whose driver had motioned Firefighter Smith into the intersection 

blocked the view of both drivers of the other cars. 

The damage to both vehicles was minor to moderate. Firefighter Smith had a cut on his hand, 

and he had struck his head against his wife's head when the vehicles collided. He refused medical aid other than a bandage for his hand. 

Firefighter Smith returned to his home and in less than an hour after the collision, Firefighter Smith's 

wife placed a call to the local ambulance service. Upon their arrival, EMS personnel found 

Firefighter Smith unconscious. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then 

flown by air ambulance to a regional hospital. Firefighter Smith underwent surgery at the regional hospital but died the following day. No autopsy was conducted. 

The cause of death was listed as a blunt impact injury to the head with subdural hematoma. 

(fire department Web site www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/MeredithNH) 

58 APPENDIX A 
February 5, 2001 - 10:50 a.m. 

Matthew D. Smith, Firefighter 

Age 33, Career

Redwood City Fire Department, California

Firefighter Smith and the members of his crew had begun the daily on duty routine. One of the components of this routine was an exercise program. All three members of the crew began the workout in the fitness area of the fire station. The company officer and the other firefighter momentarily left the workout area. 

When the firefighter returned to the workout area, Firefighter Smith was discovered on the floor 

in a fetal position. The firefighter called for assistance to the company officer. An ambulance 

and an additional engine company were summoned. The company officer and the firefighter 

provided ALS medical care to Firefighter Smith, including the application of a defibrillator. 

Firefighter Smith was found to be in ventricular fibrillation. A total of 11 shocks were given in the 

field. Lifesaving efforts continued at the emergency room for another 30 minutes but were unsuccessful in reviving Firefighter Smith. 

Firefighter Smith was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy (IDC), a heart disease. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-24. 

(fire department Web site www.ci.redwood-city.ca.us/fire/index.htm) 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200124.html) 

February 7, 2001 - 4:16 p.m. 

Ray Walters Lloyd, Firefighter 

Age 65, Volunteer

Marion County Fire-Rescue, Florida

Firefighter Lloyd and members of his department responded to a report of a fire involving an

abandoned double-wide mobile home. The first unit on the scene reported that the structure

was 50% involved and exterior firefighting operations were initiated.

Firefighter Lloyd had set up the pump on his engine company and was gathering equipment

when he fell face-first to the ground. Medical treatment began immediately and ALS-level care

arrived on the scene. Despite these efforts, Firefighter Lloyd died from a heart attack. Firefighter

Lloyd had a history of heart disease.

February 12, 2001 - 9:10 p.m. 

James Franklin Isberner, Firefighter 

Age 60, Volunteer

Montello Joint Fire District, Wisconsin

Firefighter Isberner and members of his department responded to a report of a fire in a residential structure. Upon their arrival, firefighters found a working fire in the basement of the house. 

APPENDIX A 59 
The first-arriving engine crew stretched a line to the basement and began to fight the fire. 

Firefighter Isberner was assisting with the deployment of a backup line. He began to feel ill and 

told the incident commander that he was short of breath and having sharp chest pains. The incident commander took Firefighter Isberner by the shoulder and sat him down while waiting for the 

responding ambulance to arrive at the incident. The incident commander directed a law 

enforcement officer to have Firefighter Isberner checked by the ambulance crew as soon as 

they arrived. 

Upon the arrival of the ambulance, Firefighter Isberner was walked to the ambulance and treated. He was transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to a regional care facility. 

Despite treatment in the hospital, Firefighter Isberner died on February 19, 2001. Firefighter 

Isberner's son, a captain, was operating an interior attack line on the scene of the incident when 

his father became ill. The cause of death was congestive heart failure complicated by an 

arrhythmia. (fire department Web site www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/MontelloWI) 

February 17, 2001 - 10:26 a.m. 

Clint Anderson Talley, Lieutenant/EMT Michael L. McKean, Firefighter 

Age 27, Volunteer Age 32, Volunteer

Ashton Fire Department, Illinois Ashton Fire Department, Illinois

Lieutenant Talley and Firefighter McKean responded with members of their fire department to a 

report of a basement fire in a single-story residence. Upon their arrival on the scene, firefighters 

searched the basement for fire and found none. The search was continued on the first floor and 

again, nothing was found. Firefighters returned to the basement with a thermal-imaging camera 

and a hoseline. A small fire was discovered and firefighters began extinguishment. 

The basement ceiling was pulled and a wave of heat and smoke descended on the five firefighters in the basement, including Lieutenant Talley and Firefighter McKean. Fire had been burning 

for some time in the concealed space between the basement ceiling and the first floor and fire 

now spread rapidly to the basement. Three firefighters were able to escape the basement 

immediately but Lieutenant Talley and Firefighter McKean were trapped. 

Firefighter McKean was not heard from after the rapid fire progression. Lieutenant Talley was in 

communication with the incident commander and relayed the fact that he was low on air and 

that his exit path had been cut off by fire progress. Mutual-aid companies and EMS resources 

were called to the scene. Firefighters cut a hole in the first floor in an attempt to make access to 

the basement for rescue but the conditions in the hole prevented their entry. 

After the fire was knocked down, both firefighters were removed and transported by medical 

helicopters to a hospital. Both were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. 

The air supply in the SCBA worn by each firefighter was depleted. Both firefighters wore activated PASS devices. The cause of the fire was an electrical short at the panel. 

60 APPENDIX A 
The cause of death for both firefighters was listed as asphyxiation. Lieutenant Talley's carboxyhemoglobin level was 58%, and Firefighter McKean's carboxyhemoglobin level was 59%. 

February 18, 2001 - 3:15 p.m. 

Donald L. Nester, Chief Engineer 

Age 56, Volunteer

Amity Fire Company, Douglassville, Pennsylvania

Chief Engineer Nester was in the fire station performing paperwork tasks associated with his 

responsibilities as the Chief Engineer. He was at the top of the stairs speaking to two firefighters 

in the engine bay below. When the conversation ended, Chief Engineer Nester slipped or lost his 

balance and fell down the stairs. 

Chief Engineer Nester struck his head on the concrete floor at the bottom of the stairs. Firefighters 

came to his aid immediately and summoned EMS responders. Chief Engineer Nester was flown 

by air ambulance to a regional care facility. His condition did not improve, and he died on 

February 19, 2001. 

The cause of death was listed as a subdural hematoma. 

February 18, 2001 - 8:30 p.m. 

Barry Wollman, Firefighter 

Age 53, Career

Eagleville Fire Department, Connecticut

Firefighter Wollman and members of his department responded to a small fire in a local shopping 

mall. After standing by at the scene, Firefighter Wollman drove back to the fire station in his 

assigned apparatus. When he returned to the fire station, he parked the engine-tanker (tender) 

in its appropriate spot and then proceeded to move a rescue truck into its appropriate spot. 

A police officer stopped by the fire station about an hour and a half later and found Firefighter 

Wollman slumped over the wheel of the rescue apparatus. Firefighter Wollman had suffered a 

heart attack. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-14. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200114.html) 

February 19, 2001 - 4:15 p.m. 

Lloyd E. Curtis, Fire Police Officer 

Age 75, Volunteer

Vestal Fire Department, New York

Fire Police Officer Curtis was the passenger in a brush truck responding to an automatic fire alarm

APPENDIX A 61 
in a nursing home. The driver of the truck looked over and saw Fire Police Officer Curtis slumped 

over in his seat. The driver diverted their response to a fire station and called for EMS assistance. 

Upon their arrival at the fire station, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was initiated. Fire 

Police Officer Curtis was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. The 

cause of death was a heart attack. 

February 25, 2001 - 8:00 a.m. 

Dana Raymond Johnson, Assistant Fire Chief 

Age 46, Paid-on-Call

Grantsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Wisconsin

A husband and wife were involved in a domestic dispute. The husband set fire to the wife's place 

of employment, a restaurant. After setting the fire, the husband returned home and brought his 

wife back to the scene. The wife attempted to extinguish the fire on the exterior of the restaurant. She then attempted to leave the scene. The husband shot out the tires on their vehicle. 

The wife left the scene by foot and noticed that the interior of the restaurant was filling with 

smoke. The wife walked and then was given a ride to the local courthouse. When she arrived 

at the courthouse, she reported the fire and relayed the fact that her husband was in the area 

and armed with a handgun. 

Law enforcement officers and firefighters were notified of the incident. Due to the fact that a 

gunman was loose in the area, firefighters were directed to stage away from the scene. After 

the area was secured, firefighters were allowed to proceed to the scene. The delay since the 

time of the alarm was approximately 45 minutes, but the fire had been in progress in excess of an 

hour. When firefighters reached the scene, the fire was well developed. 

Assistant Chief Johnson and the members of the Grantsburg Volunteer Fire Department were 

called for mutual aid about an hour after firefighters were allowed access to the scene. Assistant 

Chief Johnson and his firefighters were directed by the incident commander to relieve firefighters on hoselines. The Assistant Chief and another firefighter walked toward a nozzle that had 

been left by other firefighters near the breezeway between two buildings. Assistant Chief 

Johnson and the other firefighter decided that their present position was not safe and began to 

exit. As they turned to leave, loud cracking sounds were heard when areas of the wall and the 

building's roof collapsed on Assistant Chief Johnson and the other firefighter. 

Assistant Chief Johnson was completely buried; the other firefighter was buried to his shoulders. 

Firefighters removed debris and extricated the firefighter. Assistant Chief Johnson was pinned in 

the rubble. Airbags and high-lift jacks were used to lift structural members, and he was removed 

after being trapped for approximately 25 minutes. 

After he was removed, Assistant Chief Johnson was found to be unresponsive. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where a pulse was regained. He was then transferred by 

air ambulance to a regional care facility where he expired the next day. 

62 APPENDIX A 
The cause of death was listed as anoxic encephalopathy and chest compression asphyxia. 

Despite the best efforts of firefighters on the scene, Assistant Chief Johnson had been without 

oxygen too long to survive. The man who set the fire committed suicide not far from the structure fire, prior to the arrival of law enforcement and firefighters. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-09. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200109.html) 

March 3, 2001 - 10:00 a.m. 

Mark Lee Edwards, Engineer 

Age 41, Volunteer

Gower Fire Protection District, Missouri

Engineer Edwards stopped by the fire station to pick up some equipment. As he approached

the station, he slipped on ice and fell. As a result of the fall, Engineer Edwards broke two bones

of one leg just above the ankle.

Surgery was required to repair the damage to Engineer Edwards' leg. During surgery, an incident

occurred that deprived Engineer Edwards of oxygen. He fell into a coma and was eventually

transferred to a long-term care facility. Engineer Edwards died on January 29, 2002.

March 6, 2001 - 3:00 p.m. 

Christopher Donald Kobierowski, Assistant Fire Chief 

Age 41, Volunteer

Delta Junction Volunteer Fire Department, Alaska

Assistant Chief Kobierowski was the driver of a 1,000-gallon pumper/tanker that was responding 

to a garage fire. As the apparatus neared the scene, the vehicle began to fishtail. Assistant 

Chief Kobierowski overcorrected and the right rear wheels of the apparatus went off the road. 

The vehicle traveled into the opposing lane of traffic, and Assistant Chief Kobierowski overcorrected again. The apparatus left the right side of the road, rolled onto the driver's side, and collided into a tree. Impact with the tree crushed the cab roof of the apparatus down to the dashboard and seats. The trunk diameter of the tree was approximately 36 inches. 

Responders on the scene of the structure fire witnessed the crash and ran to the scene to render 

aid. Assistant Chief Kobierowski and another firefighter were trapped in the cab. The windshield 

of the apparatus was removed, and the winch from an electrical utility service truck was used to 

remove the tree and to pull the roof of the cab open to allow access to the injured firefighters. 

Assistant Chief Kobierowski was removed and found to have a massive head injury. The other 

firefighter received minor injuries. 

CPR was begun on Assistant Chief Kobierowski and continued on-scene for approximately 20 

minutes until he was pronounced dead. 

APPENDIX A 63 
The law enforcement report on the crash cited excessive speed and icy conditions as contributing to the incident. Neither Chief Kobierowski nor the passenger in the pumper/tanker were 

wearing seat belts. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-17. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200117.html) 

March 8, 2001 - 12:31 p.m. 

William A. "Doc" Ellison III, Firefighter 

Age 38, Part-Time (Paid)

Miami Township Fire Department, Ohio

Firefighter Ellison and members of his department were dispatched to a report of a structural fire 

in a residence with persons trapped. As firefighters approached the scene, smoke was visible. 

Upon their arrival, firefighters reported heavy black smoke and moderate fire coming through the 

left front side of the building. 

The first-arriving crew forced entry through the front door of the residence and found two bedrooms with fire involvement. The first floor of the structure was searched, and fire in the bedrooms 

was controlled with a handline. There was still a significant amount of fire in the attic, and the 

incident commander gave the order to evacuate the building. An exterior attack was made on 

the fire with handlines and a master stream. 

After the fire was knocked down, three firefighters, including Firefighter Ellison, made entry into 

the first floor. One firefighter was forced to leave due to difficulties with his SCBA. Firefighter 

Ellison was on the nozzle. As the firefighters pulled walls and applied water, they moved through 

a first-floor hallway. A soft spot in the floor was noted as firefighters worked their way down the 

hall. An additional group of firefighters were working to control a fire in the basement. Firefighter 

Ellison and the other firefighter working with him agreed that conditions were worsening on the 

first floor and that they needed to leave the structure. As they turned to exit, Firefighter Ellison fell 

through the soft spot in the floor into the basement. 

The firefighter that had been working with Firefighter Ellison attempted to reach down through 

the hole and pull Firefighter Ellison back to the first floor. After four unsuccessful attempts, the firefighter left the building and alerted other firefighters to the situation. Further attempts were made 

to pull Firefighter Ellison from the hole, but crews were unable to complete the task. A portable 

ladder was placed into the hole to facilitate rescue, but smoke and fire conditions would not 

allow it to be used. In the course of these attempts, Firefighter Ellison's gloves came off. 

Three crews entered the basement through the rear of the structure in an attempt to reach 

Firefighter Ellison. Two handlines were advanced, and the basement fire was knocked down. 

Firefighter Ellison was found in a seated position; his helmet was off and his hood was pulled back. 

Firefighter Ellison's facepiece was in-place and he was breathing. Firefighters removed him from 

the building, and his protective clothing was removed. Medical care was provided on-scene, 

and Firefighter Ellison was flown to a regional medical facility. 

64 APPENDIX A 
Firefighter Ellison sustained second and third degree burns to 60% of his body, including his hands, 

head, chest, back, and legs. Intensive medical care was provided at the hospital, but he was 

not able to respond and died of complications from his thermal burns on March 20, 2001. 

Firefighter Ellison was a part-time firefighter with the Miami Township Fire Department and a fulltime career firefighter with the Anderson Township Fire Department. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-16. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200116.html) 

March 10, 2001 - 7:12 p.m. 

Gerald Wayne Fields, Driver/Engineer 

Age 53, Career

Dallas Fire & Rescue, Texas

Driver/Engineer Fields completed his regular shift at his home fire station and began an overtime 

shift at another Dallas fire company, Engine 16. His regular shift had been normal with 5 responses completed during the 24-hour shift. 

After breakfast, the crew went to a grocery store to shop for the day; worked out; cleaned the 

station and the apparatus; and performed other normal fire station tasks. Driver/Engineer Fields 

had agreed to cook for the day, and the crew ate dinner at approximately 5:00 p.m. After the 

meal, Driver/Engineer Fields sat in the television room while the rest of the crew cleaned the 

kitchen. 

At approximately 7:00 p.m., a box alarm was dispatched in the area of town normally worked by 

Driver/Engineer Fields. Engine 16 was not dispatched to the incident. The company officer of 

Engine 16 went out to the engine to get a portable radio to monitor the box alarm response and 

he returned inside the station and sat down to watch television. 

The company officer heard a sound and turned to see Driver/Engineer Fields leaning back in the 

chair, breathing loudly, and shaking. The company officer immediately used his portable radio 

to request an EMS response. The company officer called to the other members of the crew for 

assistance. CPR was begun immediately and an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) was 

applied. The AED delivered several shocks and firefighters provided ventilation. An ALS ambulance arrived at the fire station and continued care while transporting Driver/Engineer Fields to 

the hospital. 

Despite all efforts, Driver/Engineer Fields was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of 

death was listed as hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-22. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200122.html) 

APPENDIX A 65 
March 11, 2001 - 1:45 p.m. 

William "Bill" James, Firefighter 

Age 65, Volunteer

Caballo Fire and Rescue Department, New Mexico

Firefighter James was engaged in a Firefighter I certification training session. The class completed the morning session, went to lunch, and returned for the afternoon session. Firefighter James

was practicing ladder carries in full structural protective clothing when he suddenly set the ladder down, grabbed his chest, and fell to the ground. Other firefighters rushed to his aid and

began CPR immediately. ALS-level care was provided within 10 minutes and Firefighter James

was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He was later flown by air ambulance to a regional hospital where he expired three days after becoming ill.

March 14, 2001 - 9:30 a.m. 

Dan Hupe, Firefighter 

Age 54, Paid-on-Call

Stratford Fire Department, Wisconsin

Firefighter Hupe was working around the fire station performing general maintenance duties,

including hose rolling for storage, sweeping, and maintenance on a brush truck. As he talked

with another firefighter in the station, he suddenly collapsed. The other firefighter, who was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), aided Firefighter Hupe and summoned the

local ambulance squad. Despite their efforts, Firefighter Hupe died of a heart attack. In addition to his work with the fire department, Firefighter Hupe also served his community as a police

officer.

March 14, 2001 - 5:36 p.m. 

Bret Richmond Tarver, Firefighter/Paramedic 

Age 40, Career

Phoenix Fire Department, Arizona

On Wednesday, March 14, 2001, a report of a debris fire was received by the Phoenix Fire 

Department Regional Dispatch Center. The caller reported fire in a pile of debris at the rear of a 

hardware store. An engine company was dispatched to the fire reported by the caller. 

Based on the volume and nature of the smoke he was seeing as he drove through his district, 

Battalion 3 ordered additional fire department resources dispatched to assist. Battalion 3 also 

responded to the incident. 

The unit that is normally closest to the fire location is Engine 14. Engine 14 became available after 

the dispatch of the initial units. The captain of Engine 14 added his unit to the incident by computer and informed Battalion 3 of their arrival on the scene. 

66 APPENDIX A 
Battalion 3 ordered Engine 14's crew to enter businesses that back up to the debris fire to evacuate occupants and to determine if fire had spread to the inside of these businesses. Engine 14's 

crew searched a barber shop that was adjacent to a supermarket, found it to be unoccupied 

and clear of fire, and moved on to the next business - the supermarket. 

When they entered the supermarket, Engine 14's crew found only light smoke at the ceiling of the 

main store. The crew moved through the building and entered a storage area. They found 

heavy smoke and moderate heat in the storage area. They reported this fact to Battalion 3 and 

went back to the front of the store to get a hoseline from another unit that had arrived at the 

front of the store. A hoseline was extended to the storage room, and water was applied to the 

fire. Visibility in the storage area was near zero and the ability to see in the supermarket deteriorated quickly. 

Firefighter Tarver, a member of the Engine 14 crew, told his captain that he was running low on 

air in his SCBA and needed to leave the building. The captain gathered his crew together and 

told them to follow the hoseline out to the exterior. 

As the two Engine 14 firefighters, including Firefighter Tarver, turned to leave, they became disoriented and ran into a wall. They got back up, turned in the direction that they thought was the 

correct way to go, and ran into another wall. Somehow both firefighters ended up in the rear 

portion of the main supermarket space. Firefighter Tarver called for help on his radio. The firefighter who was with Firefighter Tarver became separated from him and later exited the building 

with the assistance of other firefighters. 

The Engine 14 captain emerged from the building and looked for the other members of his crew, 

as well as the engineer of Engine 14. Battalion 3 could see that fire was developing in the supermarket and began to order crews out of the building. Firefighter Tarver heard these radio transmissions and repeated his call for help. 

The Engine 14 captain heard Firefighter Tarver's request for help and he notified Battalion 3 that 

he had two firefighters that were unaccounted for. The Engine 14 captain quickly spoke to the 

captain of another crew and told him to follow Engine 3's line to Firefighter Tarver's last known 

location. 

The captain and two firefighters entered the building immediately and followed the hoseline.

Visibility in the supermarket had dropped to zero. They came upon Firefighter Tarver. He was lost,

out of air, standing on his feet, and calling for help. The captain brought Firefighter Tarver down

to the hoseline and instructed him to follow it to the exterior. Firefighter Tarver had become incapacitated by the smoke and did not obey the instructions of the captain. Firefighter Tarver

crawled a short distance, then stood up, turned, and disappeared in the smoke. 

The captain and his firefighters were low on air at this point and had to leave the building.

When Battalion 3 heard that there were two Engine 14 firefighters missing, he immediately activated two Rapid Intervention Crews (RIC's). An engine crew and a ladder crew entered the 

supermarket with extra breathing air equipment to search for Firefighter Tarver and the other firefighter from Engine 14. While the RIC crews were unable to locate the Engine 14 firefighters, they 

APPENDIX A 67 
did remove other firefighters from the building. As they left the supermarket, the interior of the

supermarket became fully involved with fire. Further entry from their direction was impossible.

After much effort, Firefighter Tarver was located and moved into a large storage room. The crew

that discovered Firefighter Tarver was relieved by a series of other crews that moved Firefighter

Tarver, with great difficulty, to the exit of the supermarket storage room.

The movement of Firefighter Tarver was made extremely difficult by the smoke conditions in the

storage room, the water that was falling as a result of fire suppression efforts, the heat of the fire,

and obstacles that blocked the path to the exit and caught on Firefighter Tarver's clothing and

protective equipment. His removal was further complicated by falling debris, the limited air supply in the firefighters' breathing apparatus, and Firefighter Tarver's physical size.

Firefighter Tarver was transported to the hospital by ambulance but all efforts to revive him on the

scene, in the ambulance, and at the hospital were futile. The cause of death was listed as thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Firefighter Tarver's carboxyhemoglobin level was 61%.

A full report on Firefighter Tarver's death may be downloaded from the Phoenix Fire Department

Web site - www.phoenix.gov/fire

March 16, 2001 - 3:31 p.m. 

Robert J. "Bob" Winner, Firefighter 

Age 54, Volunteer

Perrysville Volunteer Fire Company, Pennsylvania

Firefighter Winner was the driver of the second-due engine company responding to a residential

structure fire. Firefighter Winner was assigned to pump the hydrant supplying the attack pumper

at the scene of the fire.

While Firefighter Winner was setting up his unit to pump, he began to experience chest pains. He

used a radio to call for EMS assistance. Medical personnel, including a doctor, were at his side

in minutes.

Despite efforts at the scene and en route to the hospital, Firefighter Winner died of a heart attack.

March 17, 2001 - 2:00 p.m. 

Jay Shaffer, Captain 

Age 47, Volunteer

Larkspur Fire Protection District, Colorado

Captain Shaffer was halfway toward completion of a 3-mile pack test to become certified to

fight wildfires when he collapsed of an apparent heart attack. Firefighters were called to the

scene, and they provided emergency medical care. Captain Shaffer was transported to a local

hospital. He was pronounced dead 10 minutes after his arrival at the emergency room.

68 APPENDIX A 
March 18, 2001 - 12:55 a.m. 

Jonathon David Mullaney, Lieutenant Earl Franklin Whitby, Engineer 

Age 36, Volunteer Age 39, Volunteer 

Sac-Osage Fire Protection District, Missouri Sac-Osage Fire Protection District, Missouri 

Firefighters were dispatched to a report of an electrical smell and smoke in the second story of a 

two-story residential occupancy. Upon their arrival, two firefighters entered the structure with a 

hoseline and extinguished a small fire on the stairwell that led from the first floor to the second 

floor. Smoke conditions worsened, and the firefighters who were not wearing SCBA were forced 

to leave the structure. 

Lieutenant Mullaney, Engineer Whitby, and a chief officer donned SCBA and reentered the structure on a hoseline to continue firefighting efforts. As the team proceeded into the building, the 

low air alarms for Engineer Whitby and the chief officer began to sound. The chief instructed 

Lieutenant Mullaney to lead Engineer Whitby out of the structure by following the hoseline. The 

chief remained on the nozzle and continued to suppress fire. 

After about three minutes, the chief officer began to withdraw the hoseline from the structure. 

As he neared the exit, he was knocked down by falling debris. Unable to move on his own, he 

threw his helmet through the front door to get the attention of a firefighter on the exterior. 

Firefighters were able to remove the chief; he suffered second and third-degree burns to his 

head, face, and hands. 

Lieutenant Mullaney and Engineer Whitby had not exited the structure. No functional SCBA were 

available to mount a rescue effort until the arrival of mutual-aid firefighters. Mutual-aid firefighters arrived approximately one hour after the initial alarm and they assisted with firefighting and 

rescue efforts. Lieutenant Mullaney and Engineer Whitby were discovered in a laundry room and 

removed from the structure. Both firefighters died from asphyxiation. It is unknown if either firefighter was equipped with a PASS device. 

Additional information about this incident is available in NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation 

and Prevention Program report F2001-15. (www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200115.html) 

March 20, 2001 - 1:10 p.m. 

Arthur C. Griffiths, Sr., Fire Police Captain 

Age 65, Volunteer

Spangler Fire Department, Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania

Fire Police Captain Griffiths had been working in the fire station kitchen for approximately 31⁄2

hours while assisting with the fire department bingo fund raiser. He left the station to pick up supplies and was struck with a fatal heart attack.

APPENDIX A 69
April 2, 2001 - 7:45 a.m. 

Thomas Michael Paz, Engineer 

Age 52, Career

Federal Fire Department, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Engineer Paz was preparing to go off duty, when, at approximately 6:30 a.m., he informed his

captain that he was experiencing tightness in his chest. He was transported to the hospital but

later died of a heart attack.

April 2, 2001 - 8:20 a.m. 

Dale Franklin Simpson, Firefighter 

Age 38, Volunteer

Clear Lake Fire Department, Iowa

Firefighter Simpson and members of his department responded to a fire that involved a small storage building in a cemetery. Firefighter Simpson drove an engine apparatus to the scene, assisted with hose deployment, and operated the pump on his engine. The fire was reported at 6:45 

a.m. and Firefighter Simpson's unit left the scene at 7:28 a.m. 

After returning to the fire station, Firefighter Simpson assisted with placing the engine back in-service and departed the station at approximately 8:00 a.m. He returned home, called a coworker 

to inform him that he would be late for work, and then prepared for work. 

Firefighter Simpson departed his residence for work. A short time later, a 9-1-1 call reported that 

a vehicle had run off the road and into a fence. Arriving law enforcement officers found 

Firefighter Simpson unconscious behind the wheel. Firefighter Simpson was removed from the car 

and CPR was started. ALS-level care was provided at the scene, and Firefighter Simpson was 

transported to the hospital by ambulance. Despite efforts at the scene, en route to the hospital, 

and at the hospital, Firefighter Simpson was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m. The cause of death 

was listed as severe arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease. 

Additional information about this incident is available in NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation 

and Prevention Program report F2001-30. (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200130.html) 

April 8, 2001 - 3:00 a.m. 

Brian Steven Richter, Firefighter 

Age 34, Volunteer

Pottsville Volunteer Fire Department, Arkansas

Firefighter Richter was responding in his personal vehicle to a report of a structure fire. His vehicle left the right side of the road, traveled 116 feet on the right shoulder, and rolled over as

Firefighter Richter attempted to return the vehicle to the roadway. Firefighter Richter was ejected through the vehicle's moon roof. Firefighter Richter died of massive skull fractures.

70 APPENDIX A 
April 8, 2001 - 8:00 p.m. 

Anthony Vaughn Murdick, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Brian Wilson, Firefighter/Paramedic 

Age 25, Volunteer Age 25, Volunteer 

Unionville Volunteer Fire Company, PA Unionville Volunteer Fire Company, PA 

Members of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company responded to perform a body recovery of a 

kayaker who had drowned and become trapped under water about 20 feet from shore in 15 

feet of water. The department responded to the request of officials at the McConnell's Mills State 

Park. After arrival on-scene and an assessment of several recovery scenarios, Assistant Chief 

Murdick and Firefighter/Paramedic Wilson entered the water to perform the recovery. The firefighters were tethered together and secured to a rope line held by firefighters on shore. Both firefighters were wearing wet suits and buoyancy control devices called "back inflates." 

Within minutes of entering the water, Firefighter/Paramedic Wilson's safety rope became entangled with an underwater object. Assistant Chief Murdick also became entangled. The rapid current made working in the water difficult. Ropes were thrown from shore to the two firefighters, 

but these efforts were unsuccessful. Firefighters on shore attempted to pull the struggling firefighters to shore, but this effort was also unsuccessful. After approximately 20 minutes of rescue efforts, 

both firefighters submerged. When it became apparent that the firefighters could not be pulled 

from the water, the safety line was cut. 

Approximately ten minutes after being cut free, the bodies of both firefighters appeared about 

200 yards downstream. Both firefighters were pulseless and not breathing. ALS-level medical 

care was provided on-scene and en route to the hospital by air ambulance. Despite these 

efforts, both firefighters were pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of death for both firefighters was listed as drowning. 

The firefighters were not equipped with knives that might have allowed them to free themselves. 

Darkness and a faster than expected stream current were cited as contributing to the firefighters' deaths. 

April 9, 2001 - 8:14 p.m. 

Richard C. Canouse, Firefighter/Fire Police Officer 

Age 69, Volunteer

Milford Fire Department, Pennsylvania

Fire Police Officer Canouse and members of his department responded to a report of a structural fire with reports of fire from the roof of a building. Upon their arrival, firefighters found no active

fire but discovered that lightning had struck a tree behind the building in which the fire was

reported. Firefighters theorized that the report of fire had actually been the lightning strike. All

fire department units were placed in-service and cleared to return to their station.

Fire Police Officer Canouse was discovered unconscious in the driver's seat of his personal vehicle. He was removed from the vehicle and CPR was started by police officers. EMS crews arrived 

APPENDIX A 71 
and attached an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). No shockable rhythm was detected. 

Fire Police Officer Canouse was transported by ambulance to a local hospital while CPR was 

continued during the transport. Despite all efforts, Fire Police Officer Canouse was pronounced 

dead at the hospital. 

April 10, 2001 - 9:30 a.m. 

Brian Eugene Reed, Firefighter II 

Age 39, Career

West Manatee Fire & Rescue, Florida

Firefighter Reed was in the process of repairing a lighting fixture mounted above the apparatus

bays of his fire station. Firefighter Reed had experience as an electrician and had performed

electrical maintenance tasks in fire stations in the past. The problem with the lighting fixture had

been discovered by a previous shift when the tubes in the fixture had been changed.

Firefighter Reed was working with his back to a 24-foot extension ladder, which had been extended to a length of approximately 18 feet. A firefighter was at the base of the ladder to keep it

from moving as Firefighter Reed worked. 

As Firefighter Reed was working on the fixture, he leaned forward and fell to the floor of the apparatus bay, a distance of 15 feet. Firefighter Reed impacted the floor with his head and shoulder.

After one attempt to rise from the floor, Firefighter Reed stopped breathing and his heart

stopped. ALS-level EMS care was provided immediately by other firefighters, and Firefighter Reed

was transported to the hospital. Firefighter Reed was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the

hospital.

An autopsy revealed electrical burns on Firefighter Reed's right hand and a possible exit wound

on the back of his arm. The cause of death was listed as electrocution. 

(fire department Web site www.wmfr.org)

April 19, 2001 - 2:30 p.m. 

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Poland, Sr., President 

Age 72, Volunteer

North River Valley Volunteer Fire Company, West Virginia

One of President Poland's responsibilities was to oversee the maintenance for his department's 

fire stations and community building. President Poland often performed these tasks personally. 

President Poland was in the process of installing a cold water line to the front of the fire station. 

The fire chief stopped by the station at 12:30 p.m. and observed the work. At 4:40 p.m., a junior 

firefighter stopped by the station after school and found President Poland lying unconscious on 

the floor. Emergency medical help was summoned immediately, but President Poland had 

already expired. The cause of death was listed as multiple traumatic injuries especially craniocerebral traumatic injuries from a fall. 

72 APPENDIX A 
April 22, 2001 - Time Unknown 

Gary L. Cruise, Engineer 

Age 48, Career

South San Francisco Fire Department, California

Engineer Cruise suffered a back injury when he bent over to disconnect a hose coupling during

training. As a result of his back injury, Engineer Cruise underwent major lumbar fusion surgery on

September 6, 2001. On October 17, 2001, Engineer Cruise's wife awoke and found Engineer

Cruise suffering seizures. He then became unresponsive. CPR was initiated, and Engineer Cruise

was transported to the hospital. Engineer Cruise remained on life support until his death on

November 3, 2001. The cause of death was listed as heart attack/respiratory failure.

April 23, 2001 - 8:30 p.m. 

James Alan Rupkey, Lieutenant 

Age 58, Volunteer

Troy Fire Department, Michigan

Lieutenant Rupkey and other members of his department were engaged in search and rescue 

training using full structural protective clothing, including SCBA. A mannequin was hidden in a 

room being used for the training, and teams of two firefighters searched for the mannequin while 

advancing a hoseline. The facepieces of both firefighters were covered with a black hood to 

reduce visibility. 

Lieutenant Rupkey and his partner searched one room and found no victim, so they moved to 

the second room. Lieutenant Rupkey remained by the door as his partner searched. The partner discovered the victim and called to Lieutenant Rupkey for assistance. Lieutenant Rupkey 

stated, "I've got to get out of here" a couple of times and left. 

Observers saw Lieutenant Rupkey rise from the floor, lean on a wall, and attempt to remove his 

facepiece. Other firefighters assisted Lieutenant Rupkey by removing his facepiece and loosening his SCBA. Lieutenant Rupkey took a couple of breaths and collapsed against the wall. 

Firefighters found that Lieutenant Rupkey was not breathing and that he had no pulse. CPR was 

begun immediately and medical aid was summoned. 

CPR continued and ALS-level medical care was provided. Lieutenant Rupkey was transported 

to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. 

The cause of death was listed as an acute myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-31. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200131.html) 

APPENDIX A 73 
May 9, 2001 - 8:40 p.m. 

Alberto Tirado, Firefighter 

Age 40, Career

Passaic Fire Department, New Jersey

Firefighter Tirado and members of his department were dispatched to a report of a fire in an 

occupied three-story apartment building. The first-arriving engine company reported a working 

fire and Firefighter Tirado responded as the tiller driver of the first-arriving ladder company. 

Firefighters on-scene received reports that children were trapped in the building. Firefighter 

Tirado and another firefighter from his company proceeded to the second floor of the building 

to conduct a search. A search of the second floor was conducted and all of the apartments on 

that floor were found to be clear. Firefighter Tirado and the other firefighter proceeded to the 

third floor to continue their search. On their way to the third floor, the team encountered heavy 

smoke and high heat. Both firefighters went back to the second-story landing. Firefighter Tirado's 

partner told Firefighter Tirado to wait on the landing while he retrieved additional lighting from 

the apparatus. 

A few minutes later, Firefighter Tirado called on the radio and said that he was trapped on the 

third floor. This transmission was not heard on the fireground and a second request for help was 

also not heard. He called a third time and reported that he was trapped on the third floor and 

needed help. Firefighter Tirado's exit path had been blocked by fire, and he was unable to find 

his way out. 

A defective throttle on the pumper supplying the initial attack line created water supply and 

pressure problems. Firefighters were unable to advance to the third floor to rescue Firefighter 

Tirado. The fire on the third floor grew to a point where it was impossible for firefighters to control 

it with handlines. An aerial master stream was used to darken down the fire and allow firefighters to access the third floor. After a number of attempts, Firefighter Tirado was discovered in a 

third-story bedroom. 

The cause of death was listed as asphyxiation. Firefighter Tirado's carboxyhemoglobin level was 

found to be 65%. The fire was caused by an unsupervised 12 year old girl that was attempting to 

light a stove. The children that were reported trapped were actually out of the building. 

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-18. 

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200118.html) 

May 14, 2001 - 8:10 p.m. 

Willard Charles Christoffer, Probationary Firefighter 

Age 54, Paid-on-Call

Western Springs Fire Department, Illinois

Firefighter Christoffer was engaged in a regularly scheduled training night. He was involved in an

activity that had firefighters ascend a fully extended 105-foot aerial ladder, lock into the tip with

74 APPENDIX A 
a ladder belt, use the steps at the top of the ladder, and then descend the ladder. The ladder 

was elevated to 65 degrees. 

Firefighter Christoffer climbed the ladder and paused for a moment three-quarters of the way up 

and firefighters on the ground asked if everything was “okay,” and he responded that he was 

fine. Firefighter Christoffer continued to the tip of the ladder and deployed the steps. Firefighter 

Christoffer began his descent and at the 65-foot level, he appeared to fall backward. He made 

no attempt to catch himself or call for help. 

Firefighter Christoffer fell down the bed of the ladder and landed on the turntable. Medical aid 

was provided immediately, and Firefighter Christoffer was transported to a nearby hospital. He 

was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

The cause of death was listed as multiple injuries that resulted from a fall from height. Coronary 

arteriosclerosis was also listed as a contributing factor. 

May 16, 2001 - Time Unknown 

Ritchie J. Eutsler, Captain 

Age 30, Career

Republic Fire Department, Missouri

Captain Eutsler died in his sleep in the fire station while on-duty. His death was discovered by the

oncoming shift at approximately 6:40 a.m. The cause of death was a seizure. Captain Eutsler

had a history of seizures.

May 22, 2001 - 3:56 p.m. 

Lawrence James Webb, Firefighter 

Age 36, Career

Newark Fire Department, New Jersey

Firefighter Webb responded as a member of an engine company to a reported fire in a 21⁄2-story 

wood-frame building. Upon arrival, Firefighter Webb's company officer reported a working fire 

on the top floor of the building. 

Firefighter Webb stretched a 13⁄4-inch handline to the fire floor and operated the line at that location. An order to evacuate the building was given, but Firefighter Webb either did not hear or 

was unable to comply with the order. He was found face down with his facepiece off and not 

breathing. He was removed from the building while receiving CPR, and he was transported to 

the hospital. 

The cause of death was listed as asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation. Firefighter Webb's carboxyhemoglobin level was 43%. 

The fire was electrical in nature and ruled accidental. 

APPENDIX A 75 
June 2, 2001 - 4:15 a.m. 

Travis Lee Brown, Firefighter 

Age 30, Volunteer

Dearborn Area Fire Protection District, Edgerton, Missouri

Firefighter Brown was the right front seat passenger in a 1,000-gallon tanker responding to a mutual-aid request for assistance at a structure fire. 

As the tanker responded, it met another fire department vehicle responding in the other direction. Although the approaching apparatus stayed in its lane, the driver of the tanker moved to 

the right to allow the other vehicle to pass. In the process of moving to the right, the right wheels 

of the tanker left the roadway. The tanker traveled 140 feet on the right shoulder before the driver steered left to bring the truck back on the road. The tanker crossed the road, veered to the 

left side of the road, and impacted a grassy/rocky hill. The tanker overturned and came to rest 

105 feet from the point at which it left the roadway. Firefighter Brown was ejected. 

A firefighter from a local fire department was charged with setting the structure fire. Firefighter 

Brown was not wearing a seat belt. The cause of death was multiple trauma. 

June 10, 2001 - Time Unknown 

James A. Clingenpeel, Captain 

Age 38, Volunteer

Rosehill Fire Department, Texas

Captain Clingenpeel developed chest pains while participating in a hose and pumping training

evolution. He was transported to the hospital and admitted. A bypass operation was performed,

but Captain Clingenpeel did not recover. Captain Clingenpeel died on June 20, 2001.

(fire department online www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/TomballTX)

June 15, 2001 - 10:45 a.m. 

Carl Vernon Cook, Sr., Captain 

Age 55, Career

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, Alabama

Captain Cook was participating in a job task analysis (physical agility test) prior to returning to 

duty after being off for health reasons. He completed the test and was assisted by other firefighters in removing his protective clothing and SCBA. After he complained about not feeling well, 

firefighters provided Captain Cook with oxygen. 

A few moments later, Captain Cook became unresponsive and was found to be pulseless and 

not breathing. CPR and ALS medical care was provided at the scene and on the way to the hospital. Despite these steps, he did not recover and was pronounced dead 43 minutes after he 

became ill. The cause of death for Captain Cook was listed as cardiac arrest. 

76 APPENDIX A 
The illness that forced Captain Cook off regular duty was cardiac related. He had undergone

cardiac catheterization and had been released back to work by his personal physician.

For additional information on this incident, refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation F2001-25.

(fire department online www.ci.bham.al.us/fire)

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200125.html)

June 16, 2001 - 5:00 p.m. 

Jeffrey Vaden Chavis, Firefighter 

Age 22, Career

Lexington County Fire Service, South Carolina

Firefighter Chavis and members of his department were dispatched to a report of a residential 

structure fire. When firefighters arrived on scene, the patio style home was well involved and fire 

was extending to a second home. 

Firefighter Chavis relieved another firefighter who had run low on air. He entered an open 

garage with a charged hoseline and began to apply water to the fire. The garage was situated 

below the living area above. Five minutes after taking over the handline, Firefighter Chavis was 

knocked to the ground by a partial collapse of the floor/ceiling assembly above the garage. 

Firefighter Chavis began to crawl toward the garage door opening with burning debris on top of 

him. As he neared safety, the remainder of the garage floor/ceiling assembly and the garage 

door fell on top of him. 

Firefighter Chavis' SCBA high-pressure line burned through and he was exposed to direct flame 

contact for over a minute. Other firefighters and civilians on scene came to Firefighter Chavis' 

aid. He was transported to the hospital by a medical helicopter. He suffered 2nd and 3rd 

degree burns over 50% of his body. 

Firefighter Chavis died of complications of his burns on July 12, 2001. 

The Lexington County Fire Service was fined $3,250 by the South Carolina State Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration for work safety violations that occurred at the fire where 

Firefighter Chavis was injured. The major violations included lack of supervision by a commander and lack of communications between the interior and exterior of the hazard zone. A lack of 

staffing was also cited, 30 minutes into the incident only 5 firefighters were on the scene. 

APPENDIX A 77
June 17, 2001 - 2:30 p.m. 

John J. Downing, Firefighter First Grade Brian D. Fahey, Firefighter First Grade 

Age 40, Career Age 46, Career 

Harry S. Ford, Firefighter First Grade 

Age 50, Career 

Fire Department City of New York, New York 

Fire companies were dispatched to a report of a fire in a hardware store. The first- arriving engine 

company, which had been flagged down by civilians in the area prior to the dispatch, reported 

a working fire with smoke venting from a second-story window. 

A bystander brought the company officer from the first-arriving engine company to the rear of 

the building where smoke was observed venting from around a steel basement door. The firstarriving command officer was also shown the door and ordered an engine company to stretch 

a line to the rear of the building. A ladder company was ordered to the rear to assist in opening 

the door; Firefighter Downing was a member of this company. The first-due rescue company, 

including Firefighters Fahey and Ford, searched the first floor of the hardware store and assisted 

with forcible entry on the exterior. 

The incident commander directed firefighters at the rear of the building to open the rear door 

and attack the basement fire. Firefighters on the first floor were directed to keep the interior 

basement stairwell door closed and prevent the fire from extending. The rear basement door 

was reinforced, and a hydraulic rescue tool was employed to open it. Once the first door was 

opened, a steel gate was found inside, further delaying fire attack. 

Firefighters Downing and Ford were attempting to open basement windows on the side of the 

building, and Firefighter Fahey was inside of the structure on the first floor. 

An explosion occurred and caused major structural damage to the hardware store. Three firefighters were trapped under debris from a wall that collapsed on the side of the hardware store; 

several firefighters were trapped on the second floor; firefighters who were on the roof prior to the 

explosion were blown upwards with several firefighters riding debris to the street below; and firefighters on the street were knocked over by the force of the explosion. 

The explosion trapped and killed Firefighters Downing and Ford under the collapsed wall; their 

deaths were immediate. Firefighter Fahey was blown into the basement of the structure. He 

called for help on his radio, but firefighters were unable to reach him in time. 

The cause of death for Firefighters Downing and Ford was internal trauma, and the cause of 

death for Firefighter Fahey was listed as asphyxiation. Firefighter Fahey's carboxyhemoglobin 

level was found to be 63%. 

In addition to the three fatalities, 99 firefighters were injured at this incident. The fire was caused 

when children - two boys, ages 13 and 15 - knocked over a gasoline can at the rear of the hard78 APPENDIX A 
ware store. The gasoline flowed under the rear doorway and was eventually ignited by the pilot 

flame on a hot water heater. 

June 18, 2001 - 2:16 p.m. 

Jeremy Chandler, Firefighter 

Age 27, Volunteer

Grant County Fire District #5, Washington

Firefighter Chandler was operating a water tanker (tender) at the scene of a 20-acre wildland

fire where he was unloading the hose when he suddenly collapsed. Other firefighters came to

his aid and provided CPR. The cause of Firefighter Chandler's death was an abnormal heart

rhythm. (fire department Web page http://www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/MosesLakeWA/)

June 24, 2001 - 6:00 p.m. 

Jack Hamilton Fowler, Jr., Fire Chief 

Age 46, Career

Pueblo West Fire Department, Colorado

Chief Fowler was returning to the fire station after the completion of response team training. He

was driving his personal motorcycle and was involved in a collision with a car. He sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital upon his arrival.

June 30, 2001 - 12:10 a.m. 

Joseph Miles Vargason, Fire Police Officer 

Age 69, Volunteer

Maine Fire Department, New York

Fire Police Officer Vargason was directing traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle fire. He was

equipped with an orange helmet and vest, as well as a flashlight. As he directed traffic, Fire

Police Officer Vargason was struck by a pickup truck. Fire Police Officer Vargason was cared for

by firefighters at the scene and en route to the hospital, but he died later that morning.

The pickup truck driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. The motor vehicle fire

occurred about 40 feet from Fire Police Officer Vargason's house.

July 10, 2001 - 8:01 a.m. 

Cynthia J. Verberg, Firefighter-EMT 

Age 47, Part-Time (Paid) 

Clayton Fire Department, Ohio 

Firefighter-EMT Verberg and three other firefighters were conducting standard fire hydrant maintenance duties. The first team of two firefighters removed the caps and opened each hydrant. 

APPENDIX A 79 
Firefighter-EMT Verberg and another firefighter closed each hydrant when the water ran clear 

and then lubricated and reinstalled the caps. 

After completing maintenance on a hydrant, Firefighter-EMT Verberg took her seat on the passenger side of their ambulance and the other firefighter drove. As they proceeded out of a dead 

end street, a large portion of a dead tree fell onto the cab of the ambulance. Firefighter-EMT 

Verberg was killed and her partner was injured. 

Removal of the tree to gain access to Firefighter-EMT Verberg was very difficult (the tree was later 

weighed and found to be in excess of 3,700 pounds). Firefighters were eventually able to access 

Firefighter-EMT Verberg's neck and hands and found no pulse. It is believed that she died instantly. 

The cause of death was listed as compressional asphyxia. 

July 10, 2001 - 11:45 a.m. 

Douglas William Gilbert, Pilot 

Age 52, Wildland Contract

Craigmont Air Services under contract to the Idaho Department of Lands

Pilot Gilbert was operating a single-engine air tanker while fighting a 500-acre fire. The

Cottonwood Creek Fire was located in the Idaho backcountry south of the Salmon River.

Pilot Gilbert was preparing to make his second retardant drop of the day and was in radio contact with firefighters on the ground and with other aircraft. For reasons unknown, the aircraft

crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

(The NTSB report is available online at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp#query_start -- use

NTSB Accident Number SEA01FA127)

July 10, 2001 - 5:24 p.m. 

Thomas Lee Craven, Squad Boss Karen Lee FitzPatrick, Firefighter 

Age 30, Wildland Part-Time Age 18, Wildland Part-Time 

Jessica Lynn Johnson, Firefighter Devin Andrew Weaver, Firefighter 

Age 19, Wildland Part-Time Age 21, Wildland Part-Time 

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington 

The Thirtymile Fire began when a picnic cooking fire was abandoned and spread to the surrounding forest. The fire was located in the Chewuch River Canyon, about 30 miles north of 

Winthrop, Washington. 

80 APPENDIX A 
The Northwest Regulars #6, a 21-person Type 2 crew from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National 

Forest, was dispatched to the fire in the early morning hours of July 10, 2001. The crew arrived at 

the fire at approximately 9:00 a.m. After a safety briefing, the crew went to work at 11:00 a.m. 

The crews worked until approximately 3:00 p.m. when they stopped to eat, rest, and sharpen their 

tools. About 4:00 p.m., they responded to a request for help from another crew in the area; two 

of the three squads were sent to assist. The fire began to develop quickly, and the decision was 

made to leave the area. The road to safety was cut off by fire progress. 

The incident commander selected a site near the river that was rocky and had less vegetation 

than other areas in the canyon. Although several firefighters congregated above the road to 

monitor the fire, they were not prepared for the suddenness with which it arrived. Six firefighters, 

including the four that died, deployed their fire shelters above the road. 

After the fire passed, it was learned that Squad Boss Craven and Firefighters Fitzpatrick, Johnson, 

and Weaver had been killed. The cause of death for all four firefighters was asphyxia due to 

inhalation of superheated products of combustion. 

The Forest Service conducted a detailed assessment of the incident. The major findings of the 

report were: 

· The combination of weather and fuel conditions created extraordinary circumstances for fire 

growth on July 10th. 

· Potential fire behavior was consistently underestimated throughout the incident. 

· In spite of the readily available water, relatively little water was applied to the fire during the 

initial attack phase. This was largely due to operational problems with pumps and hoses, as 

well as delays in availability of a Type III helicopter. 

· The fatalities and injuries all occurred during fire shelter deployment. Failure to adequately 

anticipate the severity and timing of the burnover, and failure to use the best location and 

proper deployment techniques contributed to the fatalities and injuries. 

· Leadership, management, and command and control were all ineffective due to a variety 

of factors, such as the lack of communications and miscommunications, fatigue, lack of situational awareness, indecisiveness, and confusion about who was in control. 

· Two civilians were involved in the entrapment due to a failure to properly close a potentially 

hazardous area. 

· All 10 Standard Fire Orders were violated or disregarded at some time during the course of 

the incident. 

· Ten of the 18 Watch Out Situations were present or disregarded at some time during 

the course of the incident. 

APPENDIX A 81 
· Records indicated that personnel on the Thirtymile Fire had very little sleep prior to their 

assignments, and mental fatigue affected vigilance and decision making. 

· District fire management personnel did not assume incident command when the size and 

complexity of the fire exceeded the capacity of the Northwest Regulars #6. 

· The Northwest Regulars #6 crew commander served both as incident commander and crew 

boss. Command roles on the Thirtymile Fire were unclear and confusing to those in command of the incient, to the rest of the crew, and to others associated with the fire. 

The complete report is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/fire/thirtymile-reports.html 

July 16, 2001 - 2:02 p.m. 

Eddie Dean Mathis, Lieutenant 

Age 45, Volunteer

Dallas Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina

Lieutenant Mathis was responding to a car/pedestrian incident from his place of work in a nearby community. As Lieutenant Mathis rounded a left-hand curve, a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line and impacted the motorcycle operated by Lieutenant 

Mathis. 

The motorcycle left the roadway, and Lieutenant Mathis was thrown over 16 feet past the final 

resting place of the motorcycle. The crash was reported and local emergency personnel 

responded. When EMS and fire department personnel arrived, Lieutenant Mathis was alert and 

oriented. His left leg had been amputated below the knee. His condition was serious, so he was 

transported to the hospital by medical helicopter. 

During transport to the hospital, Lieutenant Mathis' condition worsened. Vital signs were lost during the flight, and he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital. 

Lieutenant Mathis was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt trauma. 

July 17, 2001 - Time Unknown 

Jeffrey T. White, Captain 

Age 26, Volunteer

South Amboy Fire Department, New Jersey

Captain White was assisting other firefighters with cleanup after the close of the department's

annual carnival. The firefighters took a break and decided to try out a three-story slide ride. Rain

water made the slide more slippery than expected. Captain White traveled so quickly that he

bounced and became airborne. Captain White sustained a severe head injury.

82 APPENDIX A 
EMS personnel on the scene attended to him, and he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Captain White was on life support in the hospital but died on July 19, 2001. 

(fire department Web address www.southamboyfire.org) 

July 22, 2001 - 5:00 a.m. 

Donald Dean Myrick, Firefighter 

Age 49, Volunteer

Ludlow Fire Protection District, Illinois

Firefighter Myrick was responding from his residence to a report of a vehicle crash requiring extrication. 

As he responded, the right wheels of Firefighter Myrick's personal vehicle left the roadway.

Firefighter Myrick oversteered to the left and the vehicle began to slide. The vehicle turned onto

its left side and slid off the road. After leaving the road, the vehicle rolled onto its top.

Firefighter Myrick was not wearing a seat belt. At some point during the crash, Firefighter Myrick's

head was crushed between the road and the door frame. The crash was not discovered until

morning. Firefighter Myrick was pronounced dead at the scene.

(fire department Web site www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/Ludlow2IL)

July 23, 2001 - Time Unknown 

William Karnes, Firefighter 

Age 45, Volunteer

Summersville Fire Department, Kentucky

Firefighter Karnes was assisting other firefighters with the disassembly of a tent that had been used

for a fire department fish fry fundraiser. He started to feel ill and was given oxygen by an EMT.

He was transported to the hospital but died of a heart attack.

July 26, 2001 - 2:00 p.m. 

Kirk James Shafer, Engineer 

Age 36, Career

North Central Fire Protection District, California

Engineer Shafer was becoming acquainted with a new engine apparatus that had recently

been delivered to his department. The engine was not yet in service. Another firefighter had

brought his child to the fire station and had requested and received permission to allow the child

to operate a small hoseline off of the new unit.

The apparatus was parked near a 500-gallon water storage tank. A 21⁄2-inch hose line was connected to a discharge on the water tank and to a discharge on the new engine to fill the

engine's booster tank. Connecting a fill line to the discharge side of a pump was an unwritten

APPENDIX A 83 
practice for members assigned to this fire station. 

The high-pressure booster pump was engaged to charge the hoseline. The pump-to-tank valve 

(tank fill) was closed. The booster pump produced pressure that fed back through the fill line and 

over pressurized the water storage tank. 

The tank failed near its bottom causing it to become airborne. Witness accounts estimated that 

the tank rose as high as 100 feet in the air. At the same moment, Engineer Shafer was either 

climbing into or out of the cab of the apparatus. The tank landed on the roof of the engine and 

struck Engineer Shafer. 

Engineer Shafer received a severe head injury. Other firefighters came immediately to his aid, 

and ALS-level EMS care was provided. Despite these efforts, Engineer Shafer died the next day. 

A check valve present on the water tank discharge or associated with the booster pump would 

have prevented this incident. The practice of attaching a fill hose to the discharge side of the 

pump has been discontinued. 

July 28, 2001 - 11:01 a.m. 

Lazaro Martinez, Firefighter 

Age 70, Volunteer

Fisher's Peak Fire Protection District, Colorado

Firefighter Martinez was participating in a live fire training exercise where he had been in a building in full structural protective clothing. 

Firefighter Martinez left the building complaining of heat-related symptoms and was assessed by 

a paramedic. He appeared to be fine and was walking around talking with other firefighters 

while he drank water. Firefighter Martinez sat down and became unconscious. 

Firefighters and paramedics onscene went to his aid immediately. At first, Firefighter Martinez 

had a weak pulse and agonal respirations. He then became pulseless and stopped breathing. 

ALS-level care was provided, including the administration of cardiac drugs and at least six defibrillation attempts. Firefighter Martinez was transported to the hospital where he later died. 

The cause of death was listed as a heart attack. The carboxyhemoglobin level of Firefighter 

Martinez' blood, drawn at the hospital, was 22% and may have been a contributing factor to his 

death. 

84 APPENDIX A
August 1, 2001 - 8:45 a.m. 

Ralph "Warren" Blackmar, Firefighter 

Age 66, Volunteer

South Foster Volunteer Fire Company, Rhode Island

Firefighter Blackmar was driving an engine back to the fire station after being cancelled while 

responding to a mill fire. Firefighter Blackmar became unconscious, the apparatus left the roadway, rolled over, and struck a utility pole. 

A firefighter who had been following the engine and other rescue personnel responded to the 

scene. Firefighter Blackmar was found to be unresponsive. He was removed from the apparatus, CPR was initiated, and he was then transported to a local hospital. Firefighter Blackmar had 

been wearing his seat belt. 

The cause of death was listed as a heart attack. Although they were likely not a factor in this incident, the rear brakes were found to be well out of adjustment in a post-collision inspection. 

August 10, 2001 - 10:15 a.m. 

James Monroe Pelton, Fire Chief 

Age 58, Career

Mason Fire Department, Michigan

Chief Pelton was traveling to a meeting in his personal vehicle. The use of his personal vehicle 

and his attendance at the meeting were approved in advance by his department. 

The driver of a compact car ran a stop sign on a road that intersected with the road that Chief 

Pelton was traveling. The compact car impacted a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that was traveling 

toward Chief Pelton's vehicle. The SUV went airborne and landed on top of Chief Pelton's pickup. Chief Pelton was killed instantly. 

After the collision, the SUV rolled off Chief Pelton's vehicle and impacted another car. Chief 

Pelton's pickup continued through the intersection, left the roadway, and impacted a house. 

The driver of the compact car was charged with negligent homicide. 

August 13, 2001 - 4:00 p.m. 

Ronald T. Kreamer, Firefighter 

Age 34, Volunteer

Frontier Volunteer Fire Company, Niagara Falls, New York

A lightning strike caused a fire in a three-story apartment complex for the elderly. Firefighter

Kreamer and members of his department responded. 

APPENDIX A 85 
Firefighter Kreamer initially assisted with the evacuation of the building and then joined firefighting efforts. About an hour into the incident, during overhaul on the third floor, Firefighter Kreamer 

collapsed. 

Firefighters carried Firefighter Kreamer to the second-floor landing where paramedics began to 

care for him. CPR and ALS-level medical services were provided. Firefighter Kreamer was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he later died. 

The cause of death was listed as a heart attack resulting from arteriosclerotic heart disease. 

(fire department Web site is http://members.tripod.com/~FrontierFire/home.html) 

August 18, 2001 - 7:30 a.m. 

Richard D. "Rick" Shoaf, Jr., Firefighter/EMT 

Age 43, Volunteer

Swarthmore Fire & Protection Association, Pennsylvania

Firefighter/EMT Shoaf responded to his fire station for a medical emergency where he was scheduled to be the driver of the ambulance. Upon his arrival at the fire station, Firefighter/EMT Shoaf

collapsed of an apparent heart attack.

Firefighters and medical personnel in the station began treatment and summoned paramedics.

Firefighter Shoaf was transported to the hospital in the ambulance that he was originally supposed to drive. Firefighter Shoaf was pronounced dead at the hospital some time later.

August 19, 2001 - 12:45 p.m. 

John Robert Hazlett, Firefighter 

Age 52, Volunteer

Odell Fire District, Oregon

Firefighter Hazlett was returning to his fire district with a 2,000-gallon tanker (the water tank was 

empty) that had undergone water tank repairs. Firefighter Hazlett was the driver and sole occupant of the tanker. 

As Firefighter Hazlett drove on a freeway at a speed estimated at 60 miles per hour, the right front 

tire of the tanker experienced a blowout. The tanker veered to the right, crossed the shoulder, 

and went into a level field of grass and rocks. The tanker traveled at an angle through the field 

for about 300 feet before striking a number of large boulders and a tree. 

The cab of the tanker was severely damaged, and Firefighter Hazlett was trapped in the vehicle. 

Responding firefighters removed him from the tanker, where he was pronounced dead at the 

scene. 

Firefighter Hazlett was not wearing a seat belt. The cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma to the head, abdomen, the upper extremities, and the lower extremities. 

86 APPENDIX A 
August 27, 2001 - 6:35 p.m. 

Lawrence L. Groff, Air tanker Pilot Lars B. Stratte, Air tanker Pilot 

Age 55, Wildland Contract Age 45, Wildland Contract 

San Joaquin Helicopters under contract to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 

Eight air tankers and three helicopters were working a 270-acre wildland fire south of Ukiah, 

California. The fire began near a suspected methampetamine lab. Air tanker Pilots Groff and 

Stratte were operating air tankers carrying 800 gallons of fire retardant each. 

The two aircraft collided above the fire as one prepared to make a drop while the second was 

joining the rotation orbit of ready aircraft. Both pilots were killed and both aircraft were completely destroyed. 

Two men were charged with arson, murder, and drug production charges in relation to the origin of the fire. 

(The NTSB reports are available online at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp#query_start -- use 

NTSB Accident Numbers LAX01GA291A and LAX01GA291B) 

August 28, 2001 - 2:00 p.m. 

Michael Gorumba, Firefighter 

Age 27, Career

Fire Department City of New York, New York

Firefighter Gorumba's engine company and a number of other fire companies were fighting a 

large fire in an auto shop. Firefighter Gorumba had assisted with handline deployment and had 

assisted with stretching a line to supply a tower ladder. 

After a structural collapse, Firefighter Gorumba could not be accounted for. A Mayday was 

transmitted, and he was found in the cab of his engine company, still dressed in his gear. 

CPR was begun immediately and Firefighter Gorumba was treated by paramedics onscene and 

en route to the hospital. Despite all efforts, Firefighter Gorumba was pronounced dead at the 

hospital. Firefighter Gorumba had graduated from the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) 

training academy in late July of 2001. 

Firefighter Gorumba had undergone extra heart tests before becoming a firefighter. He had a 

heart murmur as a child and the tests revealed a condition known as "mitral valve prolapse." The 

condition, however, was not seen as serious enough to prevent Firefighter Gorumba from working as a firefighter. 

APPENDIX A 87
August 29, 2001 - 8:20 p.m. 

Darryl J. Dzugen, Captain 

Age 36, Career

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Florida

Captain Dzugen was exercising by walking in a parking lot next to the fire station. He had a 

portable radio with him. He heard the tones go off inside his station, began to run toward the 

station, and suddenly collapsed. The dispatch was for another company so firefighters did not 

think to look for him. 

Workers from a nearby business ran into the fire station and told onduty firefighters that Captain 

Dzugen had collapsed. Firefighters immediately ran to his aid and provided ALS-level care. 

Captain Dzugen was transported to a local hospital where efforts to revive him continued. 

Unfortunately, these efforts were not successful and Captain Dzugen did not recover. 

The cause of death was arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. 

August 31, 2001 - 9:00 a.m. 

Richard Hernandez, Chief Pilot Santi Arovitx, Co-Pilot 

Age 37, Wildland Contract Age 28, Wildland Contract 

Kip Krigbaum, Assistant Chief Maintenance Mechanic 

Age 45, Wildland Contract 

Columbia Helicopters of Oregon, under contract to the United States Forest Service 

The three firefighters were aboard a large helicopter performing mechanical testing prior to 

replacement (of the helicopter) for firefighting duties. 

The helicopter was a Vertol 107-II, capable of hauling 11,000 gallons of water. The bucket was 

attached to the bottom of the aircraft. 

For reasons unknown, the helicopter crashed and burned, killing all three on board. Witnesses to 

the crash reported that the aircraft was "wobbling," and one witness reported seeing one of the 

rotors come off just before the crash. 

(The NTSB report is available online at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp#query_start -- use 

report number SEA01MA163) 

88 APPENDIX A
September 3, 2001 - 10:15 a.m. 

David Ray Rendek Jr., Firefighter 

Age 24, Wildland Part-Time

United States Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

At approximately 1:00 a.m., Firefighter Rendek and other wildland firefighters were organized as 

a crew and sent to size up a wildland fire near Sula, Montana. When they arrived, they found 

that it was too dangerous to fight the fire in the dark due to steep terrain and a large amount of 

dead wood. The decision was made to wait until morning to fight the fire. The crew spent the 

night laying hose and cold trailing hot spots outside of the main fire area. 

The next morning, Firefighter Rendek was cutting down dangerous trees (falling snags) with a 

chain saw. A helicopter equipped with a bucket was working the fire but was not in the same 

area where Firefighter Rendek was working. 

Handcrews were about to begin work. Firefighter Rendek said that he only needed a few more 

minutes to work and then he was going to rest. As he walked downhill to his work area, a pine 

tree with a diameter of 11 inches fell and struck Firefighter Rendek on the head and shoulders. 

When other firefighters reached Firefighter Rendek, he was not breathing and a pulse could not 

be found. CPR was initiated and then stopped when Firefighter Rendek began to breathe on his 

own. Firefighter Rendek's condition deteriorated and CPR was reinitiated. 

Firefighter Rendek was removed from the remote area where he was injured via a pickup truck 

and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). CPR was in-progress until Firefighter Rendek was placed on a medical helicopter; a total of approximately one hour and 45 minutes later. Firefighter Rendek died 

in flight. The cause of death was listed as blunt force injuries to the head. 

The fire was caused by a lightning strike. 

September 4, 2001 - 7:11 a.m. 

William E. Bennett, Fire Chief 

Age 49, Volunteer

Kennedy Volunteer Fire Department, New York

Chief Bennett was responding to a medical emergency in his fire department command vehicle, 

a 2001 Dodge pickup. Chief Bennett's vehicle and an ambulance were responding together. 

When the ambulance lost sight of Chief Bennett's vehicle, they began to search for it. 

Chief Bennett had entered a left-hand curve and drove off of the right side of the road. He 

attempted to bring the vehicle back on the road but the rear end came around and the vehicle began to roll. The pickup rolled several times and came to rest on its wheels in a field. Chief 

Bennett was ejected at some point and sustained severe head injuries. He was transported to 

the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. 

APPENDIX A 89 
The police report cited excessive speed and slippery pavement as factors in the collision. Severe 

thunderstorms were in the area at the time of the crash. 

(fire department Web site www.geocities.com/kennedyfire) 

September 6, 2001 - 3:52 p.m. 

Robert A. Augustyn, Lieutenant 

Age 57, Career

Cicero Fire Department, Illinois

Lieutenant Augustyn and his engine company responded to a vehicle crash on a bridge. Upon 

their arrival, fire department ambulance staff released the engine from the call. Lieutenant 

Augustyn had one firefighter move a law enforcement vehicle so that the engine could back 

down from the bridge. Lieutenant Augustyn was on the driver's side of the engine and motioned 

the driver to back up. He also used his portable radio to speak with the driver. The driver began 

to slowly back up the apparatus. 

Lieutenant Augustyn either stumbled or was hit by the back step of the engine. He ended up 

perpendicular to the apparatus and was crushed underneath. 

Bystanders and other firefighters yelled and honked their horns to get the driver's attention. The 

apparatus was stopped. Firefighters from Lieutenant Augustyn's company and from the ambulance began treatment immediately. The apparatus was raised with airbags from a responding 

truck company and Lieutenant Augustyn was transported to the hospital. 

Lieutenant Augustyn died the next day. The cause of death was multiple trauma. 

September 8, 2001 - 9:57 p.m. 

Allan MaCrae "Mac" Marriott, Firefighter 

Age 46, Volunteer

Port Townsend Fire Department, Washington

Firefighter Marriott was assigned as the engine operator for an engine company that responded 

to a report of a boat fire on a dock. The area was very crowded due to a boating festival that 

was underway. 

Firefighter Marriott was assigned to attach a supply line to a hydrant and then to extend a 21⁄2-

inch line wyed off into two 13⁄4-inch lines as soon as additional firefighters arrived to assist him. 

Firefighter Marriott was walking past the pump panel on his engine when he was struck with a 

heart attack. Other firefighter/EMT’s and firefighter/paramedics were very close by and immediately began treatment. Firefighter Marriott received ALS-level care and was transported to a 

nearby hospital. He was later pronounced dead by an emergency room physician. 

The report of a boat fire turned out to be a barbeque aboard a boat. 

90 APPENDIX A 
September 13, 2001 - 8:50 a.m. 

Charles Rawls Drennan, Jr., Assistant Fire Chief 

Age 50, Career

Denver Fire Department, Colorado

Assistant Chief Drennan went to the home of a fire captain to bring the captain to a meeting 

with the fire chief. Assistant Chief Drennan and the captain had been friends for a number of 

years. The captain had called Assistant Chief Drennan the night before to discuss personal problems with paranoia and depression and they had agreed to meet the next morning. 

Shortly after Assistant Chief Drennan arrived at the captain's home, the captain walked into the 

room armed with a high-caliber pistol. Assistant Chief Drennan and the captain's wife tried to 

convince the captain to put the weapon down, but the captain fired. Assistant Chief Drennan 

was hit twice in the chest and was dead upon arrival of law enforcement officials. 

The captain's wife was able to escape. The captain killed himself prior to the arrival of law 

enforcement officials. Assistant Chief Drennan's son is a member of the Denver Fire Department. 

Press accounts cited the tragedies of September 11th as a possible contributor to the captain's 

recent depression. 

September 14, 2001 - 9:31 p.m. 

George F. "June" Danielson, Jr., Firefighter 

Age 77, Volunteer

Mine Hill Fire Department, New Jersey

Firefighter Danielson had responded to the fire station for a chimney fire incident. When he 

arrived, the first two pieces of apparatus were already dispatched. He stayed at the station to 

stand-by in case another piece of apparatus was needed. Firefighters completed the incident 

and returned to the station. 

Firefighter Danielson and another firefighter attempted to stop traffic in front of the fire station to 

allow the returning apparatus to back into the station. Firefighter Danielson was equipped with 

a flashlight with an orange wand extension. 

Firefighter Danielson was struck by a car, thrown over the hood, and then into the roadway. 

Firefighters came immediately to his aid, and he was transported to a local hospital where he 

remained in the hospital until his death on November 8, 2001. The cause of death was listed as 

an anoxic brain injury, aspiration, and multiple blunt force trauma. 

The driver of the vehicle was not charged. The police report on the collision cites dark clothing 

worn by Firefighter Danielson and the numerous flashing lights on the apparatus waiting to back 

into the station as factors in the incident. 

APPENDIX A 91 
September 16, 2001 - Time Unknown 

Willie Barns, Fire Police Lieutenant 

Age 66, Volunteer

Country Lakes Fire Company #1, New Jersey

Fire Police Lieutenant Barns was responding to perform traffic control duties near the scene of an

electrical transformer fire. Lieutenant Barns was driving his personal vehicle.

At some point during the response, Lieutenant Barns became ill and pulled to the side of the

road. Firefighters returning from the original incident saw his car on the side of the road and,

thinking that he was having mechanical difficulties, discovered him slumped over the wheel.

Firefighters provided medical care, and Lieutenant Barns was transported to the hospital where

he was later pronounced dead of a heart attack.

(fire department Web page www.fire-ems.net/firedept/view/BrownsMillsNJ 

September 25, 2001 - 1:00 a.m. 

Clarence Kreitzer, Firefighter 

Age 78, Volunteer

Bowie Volunteer Fire Department, Company 19, Maryland

A tornado struck the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park. The tornado 

destroyed several buildings being used as the temporary home of the Maryland Fire & Rescue 

Institute (MFRI). 

The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department was called out to, among other things, provide incident 

scene lighting for the recovery activities. Firefighter Kreitzer operated a specialized floodlight unit 

on-scene. Once clear of the scene, Firefighter Kreitzer returned to the fire station, told others that 

he was not feeling well, and headed home. 

A short distance from the fire station, Firefighter Kreitzer experienced a heart attack. His car left 

the road and struck a guard rail. Firefighters in the station were alerted by a passerby and ran to 

the scene. Firefighter Kreitzer was rushed back to the fire station, and emergency medical care 

was provided. Unfortunately, Firefighter Kreitzer did not recover. 

The tornado also killed the two college-age daughters of past Fire Chief and MFRI Assistant 

Director F. Patrick Marlatt. Chief Marlatt was trapped in the debris of the MFRI buildings and had 

to be extricated. His daughters had just left his office; their car was thrown 600-900 feet. 

92 APPENDIX A
September 25, 2001 - 7:15 p.m. 

Bradley P. Golden, Firefighter 

Age 19, Volunteer

Westmoreland Fire District - Lairdsville Fire Department, New York

Firefighter Golden was participating in live fire structural firefighting training at an old farmhouse 

that had been acquired by the department for training. Firefighter Golden was instructed to go 

to the second story of the structure and play the role of a victim. A burn barrel full of Class "A" 

materials was present on the second floor. 

A couch was ignited at the bottom of the stairs that led from the bottom floor to the second floor. 

The fire in the couch developed quickly and spread to the second story, trapping Firefighter 

Golden and two other firefighters. Firefighter Golden, who was wearing full structural protective 

clothing and SCBA, was trapped and disoriented. 

Firefighters were summoned from a staging area and removed one trapped firefighter. 

Firefighter Golden was not immediately removed and died of asphyxiation. 

Firefighter Golden joined his department three weeks prior to the fatal training incident. An assistant fire chief was charged and convicted of criminally negligent homicide for lighting the couch 

on fire. 

September 26, 2001 - 9:30 p.m. 

Daniel Neil Woodward, Captain 

Age 32, Volunteer

Blackman Volunteer Fire Department, Florida

Captain Woodward was at home speaking with his wife on the telephone when he noticed 

smoke coming from a bathroom and evacuated his 5 year old daughter. The fire department 

was notified and arrived on-scene. 

Captain Woodward assisted responding firefighters with the extinguishment of the fire. Once the 

home was cleared of smoke, Captain Woodward and other firefighters entered the residence to 

assess the damage. Firefighter Woodward began to complain of chest pains and collapsed 

while walking to a nearby ambulance. 

He was treated at the scene and en route to the hospital but died of a heart attack. The fire was 

accidental and began in a bathroom exhaust fan. 

At the time of the incident, Captain Woodward's wife was in New York City as a part of a disaster medical assistance team. 

APPENDIX A 93
October 13, 2001 - 4:48 a.m. 

Jay Paul Jahnke, Captain 

Age 40, Career

Houston Fire Department, Texas

Captain Jahnke and his engine company were dispatched to a report of a fire in a 40-story residential high-rise. Upon their arrival, Captain Jahnke reported a working fire on the fifth floor of 

the building and requested a second alarm. While Captain Jahnke's driver attached lines to the 

building's fire department connection, Captain Jahnke and his firefighter climbed the stairs to the 

fire floor. 

Upon their arrival on the fire floor, Captain Jahnke and his firefighter were joined by the captain 

and firefighter from a ladder company. The four firefighters entered the fire occupancy and 

began to apply water to the fire. The two firefighters ran low on air and exited to change their 

cylinders, leaving the two captains to fight the fire. 

When the firefighters opened the stairway door to exit, conditions in the fire occupancy worsened dramatically. The captains decided to leave the apartment by following their hose line but 

soon became separated. Captain Jahnke became separated from the line and disoriented. 

The other captain was found in the stairwell by other firefighters and removed from the building. 

Captain Jahnke called for help on his portable radio. Firefighters responding to his request were 

guided to his location by the sound of his PASS device. Despite their efforts, Captain Jahnke died 

of asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation. 

There are a number of Jahnke's that serve the Houston Fire Department. The department's training academy is named for Captain Jahnke's uncle. 

A full report on Captain Jahnke's death may be downloaded from the Houston Fire Department 

Web site - www.ci.houston.tx.us/hfd/index.html 

October 13, 2001 - 11:00 a.m. 

Kenneth James Frayne, Firefighter 

Age 28, Volunteer

Channahon Fire Protection District, Illinois

Firefighter Frayne and other firefighters were participating in a dive rescue training exercise. 

Firefighter Frayne was performing the third exercise of the day. When he and his partner 

descended to a depth of 50 feet, Firefighter Frayne signaled his partner to accept a rope bag 

and then signaled that it was time to surface. 

When Firefighter Frayne's partner reached the surface, he did not see Firefighter Frayne but 

assumed that he had gone to shore. Upon his arrival at the beach, the partner alerted an officer that he could not locate Firefighter Frayne. A search for Firefighter Frayne, on land and in the 

water, began. 

94 APPENDIX A 
Firefighter Frayne was found on the bottom of the lake and brought to the surface. When he was 

found, his mask and regulator were not in-place and his air cylinder was empty. Firefighter Frayne 

was brought to shore and ALS-level care was provided at the scene and en route to the hospital. Upon his arrival at the hospital, Firefighter Frayne received aggressive care but was pronounced dead after more than 40 minutes of resuscitative efforts. 

The cause of death was listed as drowning. Over an hour passed from the time that Firefighter 

Frayne was discovered missing until he was found. 

October 14, 2001 - 7:50 p.m. 

Robert H. Marsh, Firefighter 

Age 78, Volunteer

Cal-Nev-Ari Fire Department, Clark County Fire Department, Nevada

Firefighter Marsh responded to a report of a vehicle crash on a highway just over the California 

line. Firefighter Marsh was the sole occupant of a light rescue vehicle that was stationed at his 

home. 

Firefighter Marsh spoke to other responding firefighters about three miles into California and 

reported that he had not located the crash. A few minutes later, all responding units were cancelled. The crew of an ambulance that had responded to the initial incident became concerned when Firefighter Marsh did not acknowledge the cancellation. 

The ambulance retraced the route taken by Firefighter Marsh and found his apparatus off the 

side of the road approximately six miles into California. All of the vehicle's emergency lights were 

operating, and Firefighter Marsh was buckled into his seat belt. 

The crew of the ambulance found that Firefighter Marsh had died. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack. He had undergone a department physical two months prior to his death. 

The exam was within normal limits with the notation that Firefighter Marsh had a history of coronary artery disease, respiratory disease, and hearing loss. 

October 24, 2001 - 9:30 p.m. 

Michael Gene Elliott, Firefighter 

Age 46, Volunteer

Maple Rapids Fire Department, Michigan

Firefighter Elliott and members of his department were paged to respond to their station due to severe

weather in the area. In accordance with department standard operating procedures, Firefighter

Elliott was en route to pick up his daughter to ensure her safety prior to reporting to the fire station. 

As he drove down a local road, a tree fell onto the cab of Firefighter Elliott's vehicle and crushed him.

Local residents and rescuers used chain saws to remove the tree. Firefighter Elliott was most likely killed

immediately.

APPENDIX A 95 
October 25, 2001 - 11:32 a.m. 

William Howzdy, Firefighter/President 

Age 71, Volunteer

Glenn Dale Volunteer Fire Association, Maryland

Firefighter Howzdy was at the fire station organizing leftover materials from the department's 

annual open house. Each year, the Glenn Dale Fire Department constructs a fully furnished 

three-room house, then burns the house so that residents of their area can get a first-hand look 

at the damage caused in a residential fire. Firefighter Howzdy was sorting leftover materials and 

making arrangements to store them until the next year. 

While working, he collapsed of an apparent heart attack. Other firefighters found him and 

began CPR immediately. Additional assistance was called and Firefighter Howzdy was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour after becoming ill. 

November 2, 2001 - 2:30 p.m. 

Dennis Alan "Denny" Dart, Senior Firefighter 

Age 62, Volunteer

Sugar Camp Volunteer Fire Department, Wisconsin

Firefighter Dart and members of his department responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Upon 

their arrival, they discovered a fully involved pickup truck. Firefighter Dart was running the pump 

panel and an attack line was advanced. Firefighters were having trouble opening the hood, so 

the chief began to don an SCBA to allow him to assist them. 

Firefighter Dart walked to the rear of the truck to retrieve a pry bar. He walked about 10 feet 

back toward the front of the truck and suddenly collapsed. The fire chief went immediately to 

Firefighter Dart's side and found that he was not breathing. Firefighting efforts were stopped and 

all fire department members on-scene began to assist Firefighter Dart. CPR was begun until the 

arrival of an ambulance. Firefighter Dart died of a heart attack. 

November 10, 2001 - 6:31 p.m. 

Hairold "Bear" Strode, Firefighter 

Age 46, Wildland Part-Time

Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry

Firefighter Strode was a member of a four-person hand crew constructing a fire break along the

right flank of a fire near the head of a small, steep drainage on the Daddy Ridge Fire. The initial

fire had been contained the day before but escaped its control line. 

The members of the hand crew were using two leaf blowers and two rakes to move loosely compacted hardwood leaf litter in depths varying between six inches to over two feet. A spot fire

made an extremely fast run up the drainage where Firefighter Strode was located. A firefighter

working side-by-side with Firefighter Strode noticed fire advancing toward them up the drainage.

96 APPENDIX A 
The firefighter tapped Firefighter Strode on the shoulder, pointed upward to their escape route, 

and told Firefighter Strode to leave the area immediately. The firefighter ran about 75 feet into 

a burned area and received a minor burn; Firefighter Strode was not with him. 

Firefighters could not come to the assistance of the injured crew members for 3 - 31⁄2 hours due 

to fire conditions. Firefighter Strode was killed when the fire burned over his position. The cause 

of death was listed as asphyxiation and burns. 

November 19, 2001 - 2:14 p.m. 

Clifford Andrew White, Jr., Firefighter 

Age 21, Volunteer

Cameron Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia

Firefighter White was the passenger in a 2,000-gallon tanker (tender) responding to a mutual-aid 

brush fire. The driver of the tanker negotiated several turns and changes in grade during the initial response. As the driver attempted to slow down in a turn, the brake pedal went to the floor 

and no braking effort was accomplished. The driver tried to pump the pedal but was not able 

to slow the vehicle. The driver told Firefighter White to jump from the vehicle but Firefighter White 

refused and buckled his seat belt. 

The driver drove into a ditch on the side of the road in an attempt to slow the truck while he 

increased the engine RPMs in an attempt to get the truck into gear. The tanker came to the end 

of the ditch at a sharp turn and jumped back up onto the roadway. The apparatus crossed the 

roadway and then plunged down a 40-50 foot embankment. The truck flipped end over end; 

the chassis and the water tank separated. The driver and Firefighter White were trapped in the 

cab. 

An engine company was responding on the same incident and was nearly struck by the water 

tank as it rolled downhill. After witnessing the crash, the engine firefighters went to the aid of the 

trapped firefighters. Both firefighters were talking when they reached the truck but Firefighter 

White stopped breathing shortly thereafter. Both firefighters were extricated from the crushed 

cab. The driver was transported to the hospital by medical helicopter. 

The police report cited excessive speed and failure to maintain control as contributing factors in 

the crash. An inspection of the remains of the tanker found that the rear brakes were out of 

adjustment. 

Firefighter White died of internal trauma. 

APPENDIX A 97
November 20, 2001 - 5:30 p.m. 

Paula Jane Varble, Fire Chief 

Age 40, Volunteer

Arrey Derry Fire Department, New Mexico

Chief Varble responded to the report of a vehicle collision on a local highway. Since the scene 

of the collision was only about a mile from her house, she was the first fire department member 

on-scene. Chief Varble discovered that a vehicle that was being towed had separated from the 

tow vehicle and crashed. There were no injuries at the scene, so she told other responding firefighters to return to quarters. Chief Varble remained on-scene to wait for law enforcement. She 

spent about an hour at the crash site. 

Upon returning home, Chief Varble complained to her husband that she was experiencing a 

severe headache. After some convincing, Chief Varble was transported to a local hospital in her 

personal vehicle. After an initial assessment at the local hospital, Chief Varble was flown by medical helicopter to a regional care facility. 

By the time that Chief Varble's husband reached the regional care facility by ground, Chief 

Varble's condition had worsened. Chief Varble died on November 21, 2001. The cause of death 

was listed as a CVA (stroke). 

December 11, 2001 - 10:45 p.m. 

Debra Sinard, Firefighter 

Age 43, Volunteer

White Pine Volunteer Fire Department, Tennessee

Firefighter Sinard was participating in simulated structural firefighting training. The training 

involved hoseline advancement in full structural protective clothing, including SCBA, but did not 

involve live fire. After completing the training, Firefighter Sinard complained of shortness of 

breath. She was placed on oxygen and took a breathing treatment. She refused the urging of 

other firefighters to go to the hospital but agreed to be driven home by other firefighters. 

She was visited at home by other firefighters and stated that she was still experiencing difficulty 

breathing and was anxious. While other firefighters were in her home, Firefighter Sinard collapsed 

and went into cardiac and respiratory arrest. CPR was begun immediately and EMS was summoned. 

Upon their arrival, EMS responders provided Firefighter Sinard with care, including three shocks 

from a defibrillator. Firefighter Sinard was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead 

after her arrival. Firefighter Sinard died of a heart attack. 

98 APPENDIX A
December 14, 2001 - 3:00 p.m. 

Ralph E. Vance, Firefighter 

Age 68, Volunteer

Elk Creek Fire Protection District, Conifer, Colorado

Firefighter Vance was the driver and sole occupant of a 2,500-gallon tanker (tender) responding

to a report of a chimney fire. As the tanker began to round a left-hand curve, Firefighter Vance

suffered a heart attack. The apparatus left the roadway, slid down a 100-foot embankment, collided with several trees and dirt berms, and came to rest on its left side.

Firefighter Vance was trapped in the cab of the truck and had to be extricated. Once removed,

he was flown by medical helicopter to a regional hospital. He was pronounced dead some time

later. Firefighter Vance was wearing his seat belt.

The incident to which Firefighter Vance had been responding was a false report.

December 15, 2001 - 11:45 a.m. 

Darrell Dean "Ricky" Thomas, Assistant Fire Chief 

Age 48, Career

Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department, Arizona

Assistant Chief Thomas was filling the water tank on a 500-gallon brush truck when he collapsed

to the ground. The collapse was witnessed by another firefighter who summoned help and

began CPR. 

Despite efforts onscene and en route to the hospital, Assistant Chief Thomas died of a heart

attack.

December 24, 2001 - 10:20 a.m. 

David Butler, Firefighter 

Age 43, Volunteer

Spring Branch Volunteer Fire Department, Texas

Firefighter Butler was responding to a structure fire in a fire department command unit pickup 

truck. When Firefighter Butler experienced a heart attack, the truck crossed into a median, ran 

over two road signs, drove along in the median for a third of a mile, and then drove into the 

opposing lanes of traffic and over a bridge. The truck was involved in a crash seven-tenths of a 

mile from the point at which it originally left the roadway. The truck then veered from the left side 

of the roadway and crashed into some trees and a rock wall before coming to rest. 

A passerby, who was a retired EMT from a nearby city, found Firefighter Butler lying across the seat 

unrestrained and unresponsive. Firefighter Butler was treated at the scene and then flown by 

medical helicopter to a local hospital. The cause of death was listed as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

APPENDIX A 99 
Pre-2001 Incidents 

December 23, 1995, 2:08 p.m. 

Donald E. "Snuffy" Souza, Captain 

Age 59, Career

Centerville-Osterville- Marstons Mills Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services,

Massachusetts

Captain Souza was performing search and rescue duties at a two-alarm residential fire. As he

was headed down the stairs into the basement, his right hand came into contact with an electrical circuit and his glove was blown off. The shock was severe enough to fracture Captain

Souza's thumb into several pieces.

Captain Souza was removed from the building by other firefighters and transported to a local

hospital.

The electrocution caused cardiac problems that forced Captain Souza's early retirement. The

fire was caused by hot stove ashes that were left in a plastic bucket in the mudroom of the house. 

Captain Souza died on May 30, 2001, as a result of cardiac complications.

July 9, 1997, 6:24 p.m. 

Thomas Chester Gentry, Firefighter 

Age 54, Volunteer

Largaro Volunteer Fire Department, Sandia, Texas

Firefighter Gentry was the driver and sole occupant of a 1,000-gallon pumper/tanker responding 

to a grass fire. As the pumper/tanker approached another fire truck, Firefighter Gentry applied 

the brakes and skidded 58 feet. The right wheels of the pumper/tanker left the roadway and produced approximately 91 feet of skid marks on the right shoulder. Firefighter Gentry steered left, 

leaving 27 feet of right wheel skid on the pavement. The rear end of the truck came around in 

a counter clockwise direction and the pumper/tanker began to roll. 

The pumper/tanker crossed the centerline of the roadway and rolled into the opposing lane, the 

water tank separated from the truck, and the chassis continued into the ditch on the left side of 

the road. Firefighter Gentry was ejected. 

Firefighter Gentry was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 

cause of death was severe head injuries. Firefighter Gentry was not wearing a seat belt. 

100 APPENDIX A
May 22, 1999, Time Unknown 

Linda A. Hernandez, Firefighter 

Age 34, Career

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Florida

Firefighter Hernandez and her crew were performing ventilation duties on the roof of a fireinvolved structure. Firefighter Hernandez was exposed to smoke during the incident. The fire 

involved a two-story apartment complex and eventually went to two alarms. 

The smoke exposure caused her to contract chemically-induced asthma. Firefighter Hernandez 

was treated for her respiratory problems and worked light duty for the department. 

The medications that were used to treat her asthma either caused a reaction that damaged her 

liver or directly damaged her liver. In June of 2000, Firefighter Hernandez received a liver transplant. 

Firefighter Hernandez died of pneumonia on September 18, 2001. 

January 17, 2000 - 12:03 p.m. 

Charles E. Klick, Sr., Incident Commander 

Age 67, Volunteer

Fiske Union Volunteer Fire Department, Louisiana

Firefighter Klick was the first firefighter to arrive on the scene of a wildland fire. When the first 

pumper arrived, Firefighter Klick pulled a hoseline and began to attack the fire. When the fire 

chief arrived at the scene in another pumper, Firefighter Klick told the chief that he was having 

difficulty breathing and complained of pain in his left arm and leg. Firefighter Klick was provided with oxygen and advised to go to the doctor. 

Later that night, an ambulance responded to Firefighter Klick's home and transported him to the 

hospital. He had suffered a small stroke (CVA) and then suffered a major stroke a few days later 

in the hospital. 

Firefighter Klick entered a coma and was on life support until his death on February 23, 2000. The 

death was caused by complications of his strokes. The wildland fire was caused when a trash 

burning fire got out of control. 

APPENDIX A 101
Sources of Additional Information 

Additional information about many of the firefighter fatalities presented in this Appendix is available from the sources below. Where known, the report number for each incident is listed in the 

Appendix along with the incident description. Many reports are available through the mail and 

the Internet. 

NFPA International 

1 Batterymarch Park 

P.O. Box 9101 

Quincy, MA 02269 

(617) 770-3000 

http://www.nfpa.org 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

1095 Willowdale Road

Mail Stop P-180

Morgantown, WV 26505-2888

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html 

(800) 35-NIOSH 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) 

Aviation Accident Database 

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/Query.asp 

(Use the NTSB Accident Number field to search for a particular incident.) 

102 APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B

FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF NEW YORK MEMBERS 

LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. 

The first attack came at 8:48 a.m. A hijacked American Airlines Boeing 767 airliner crashed into 

the North Tower. Numerous FDNY units witnessed the attack and a third alarm assignment was 

immediately dispatched. 

Upon their arrival at the incident scene, the focus of the firefighters' efforts was the rescue of civilians trapped in the burning tower. Most elevators were damaged in the attack, so firefighters 

were forced to climb stairs crowded with escaping building occupants. 

At 9:02 a.m., a second hijacked airliner struck the South Tower. Firefighters immediately began 

to climb to the upper floors of the second tower to evacuate trapped civilians. 

At 9:50 a.m., the South Tower collapsed, killing scores of people. The North Tower collapsed at 

10:28 a.m., killing many more. 

The toll for the Nation was in excess of 3,000 people killed. This total includes occupants of both 

towers, people on the ground when the attacks occurred, firefighters, law enforcement officers, 

EMS workers, and others. Many others died at the Pentagon, where another hijacked airliner 

struck, and in a field in rural Pennsylvania where a fourth hijacked airliner crashed after its passengers refused to be used as weapons. 

The toll in firefighters' lives on September 11th, , 2001, was 341. Firefighters ranging from the Chief 

of the Department to probationary members, with a few months on the job, were killed. 

A listing of each firefighter killed by the attacks of September 11, 2001, follows: 

Joseph Agnello, Lieutenant 35 Ladder 118 

Brian G. Ahearn, Lieutenant 43 Engine 230 

Eric T. Allen, Firefighter 44 Squad 18 

Richard D. Allen, Firefighter 31 Ladder 15 

James M. Amato, Battalion Chief 43 Squad 1 

Calixto "Charlie" Anaya, Jr., Firefighter 35 Engine 4 

Joseph J. Angelini, Sr., Firefighter 63 Rescue 1 

Joseph J. Angelini, Jr., Firefighter 38 Engine 4 

Faustino Apostol, Jr., Firefighter 55 Battalion 2 

103 
David G. Arce, Firefighter 36 Engine 33 

Louis Arena, Firefighter 32 Ladder 5 

Carl F. Asaro, Firefighter 39 Battalion 9 

Gregg T. Atlas, Lieutenant 44 Engine 10 

Gerald T. Atwood, Firefighter 38 Ladder 21 

Gerald Baptiste, Firefighter 35 Ladder 9 

Gerard A. Barbara, Assistant Chief 53 Citywide Tour Commander 

Matthew E. Barnes, Firefighter 37 Ladder 25 

Arthur T. Barry, Firefighter 35 Ladder 15 

Steven J. Bates, Lieutenant 42 Engine 235 

Carl J. Bedigian, Lieutenant 35 Engine 214 

Stephen E. Belson, Firefighter 51 Ladder 24 

John P. Bergin, Firefighter 39 Rescue 5 

Paul Michael Beyer, Firefighter 37 Engine 6 

Peter A. Bielfeld, Firefighter 44 Ladder 42 

Brian E. Bilcher, Firefighter 37 Squad 1 

Carl V. Bini, Firefighter 44 Rescue 5 

Christopher J. Blackwell, Firefighter 42 Rescue 3 

Michael Leopoldo Bocchino, Firefighter 45 Battalion 48 

Frank J. Bonomo, Firefighter 42 Engine 230 

Gary R. Box, Firefighter 37 Squad 1 

Michael Boyle, Firefighter 37 Engine 33 

Kevin H. Bracken, Firefighter 37 Engine 40 

Michael E. Brennen, Firefighter 27 Ladder 4 

Peter Brennen, Firefighter 30 Rescue 4 

Daniel J. Brethel, Captain 43 Ladder 24 

Patrick J. Brown, Captain 48 Ladder 3 

Andrew Christopher Brunn, Firefighter 28 Ladder 5 

Vincent E. Brunton, Captain 43 Ladder 105 

Ronald P. Bucca, Fire Marshal 47 Fire Marshal 

Greg J. Buck, Firefighter 37 Engine 201 

William F. Burke, Jr., Captain 46 Engine 21 

Donald J. Burns, Assistant Chief 61 Citywide Tour Commander 

John P. Burnside, Firefighter 36 Ladder 20 

Thomas M. Butler, Firefighter 37 Squad 1 

Patrick D. Byrne, Firefighter 39 Ladder 101 

George C. Cain, Firefighter 35 Ladder 7 

Salvatore B. Calabro, Firefighter 38 Ladder 101 

Frank J. Callahan, Captain 51 Ladder 35 

Michael F. Cammarata, Firefighter 22 Ladder 11 

Brian Cannizzaro, Firefighter 30 Ladder 101 

Dennis M. Carey, Firefighter 51 Hazmat 1 

Michael S. Carlo, Firefighter 34 Engine 230 

Michael T. Carroll, Firefighter 39 Ladder 3 

Peter J. Carroll, Firefighter 42 Squad 1 

Thomas A. Casoria, Firefighter 29 Engine 22 

104 APPENDIX B
Michael J. Cawley, Firefighter 

Vernon P. Cherry, Firefighter 

Nicholas P. Chiofalo, Firefighter 

John G. Chipura, Firefighter 

Michael J. Clarke, Firefighter 

Steven Coakley, Firefighter 

Tarel Coleman, Firefighter 

John M. Collins, Firefighter 

Robert Cordice, Firefighter 

Ruben D. Correa, Firefighter 

James R. Coyle, Firefighter 

Robert J. Crawford, Firefighter 

John A. Crisci, Lieutenant 

Dennis A. Cross, Battalion Chief 

Thomas P. Cullen, III, Firefighter 

Robert Curatolo, Firefighter 

Edward A. D'Atri, Lieutenant 

Michael D. D'Auria, Firefighter 

Scott M. Davidson, Firefighter 

Edward J. Day, Firefighter 

Thomas De Angelis, Battalion Chief 

Martin De Meo, Firefighter 

Manuel Del Valle, Lieutenant

David P. DeRubbio, Firefighter 

Andrew J. Desperito, Lieutenant 

Dennis L. Devlin, Battalion Chief 

Gerard P. Dewan, Firefighter 

George DiPasquale, Firefighter 

Kevin W. Donnelly, Lieutenant 

Kevin C. Dowdell, Lieutenant 

Raymond M. Downey, Battalion Chief 

Gerard J. Duffy, Firefighter 

Martin J. Egan, Jr., Captain 

Michael J. Elferis, Firefighter 

Francis Esposito, Firefighter 

Michael A. Esposito, Captain

Robert E. Evans, Firefighter 

John J. Fanning, Battalion Chief 

Thomas J. Farino, Battalion Chief

Terrence P. Farrell, Firefighter 

Joseph D. Farrelly, Battalion Chief

William M. Feehan, First Deputy Commissioner 

Lee S. Fehling, Firefighter 

Alan D. Feinberg, Firefighter 

Michael C. Fiore, Firefighter 

John R. Fischer, Captain 

32 

49 

39 

39 

27 

36 

32 

42 

28 

44 

26 

62 

48 

60 

31 

31 

38 

25 

33 

45 

51 

47 

32 

38 

43 

51 

35 

33 

43 

46 

63 

53 

36 

27 

32 

41 

36 

54 

37 

45 

47 

71 

28 

48 

46 

46 

Ladder 136

Ladder 118

Engine 235

Engine 219

Ladder 2

Engine 217

Squad 252

Ladder 25

Squad 1

Engine 74

Ladder 3

Safety Battalion

Hazmat 1

Battalion 57

Squad 41

Ladder 16

Squad 1

Engine 40

Ladder 118

Ladder 11

Battalion 8

Hazmat 1

Engine 5

Engine 226

Engine 1

Battalion 9

Ladder 3

Ladder 2

Ladder 3

Rescue 4

Special Operations Command

Ladder 21

Division 15

Engine 22

Engine 235

Squad 1

Engine 33

Hazmat Operations

Engine 26

Rescue 4

Division 1

Administration

Engine 235

Battalion 9

Rescue 5

Ladder 20

APPENDIX B 105
Andre G. Fletcher, Fire Marshal 

John J. Florio, Firefighter 

Michael N. Fodor, Lieutenant 

Thomas J. Foley, Firefighter 

David J. Fontana, Lieutenant 

Robert J. Foti, Firefighter 

Andrew A. Fredericks, Lieutenant 

Peter L. Freund, Lieutenant 

Thomas Gambino, Jr., Firefighter 

37 Rescue 5 

33 Engine 214 

53 Ladder 21 

32 Rescue 3 

37 Squad 1 

42 Ladder 7 

40 Squad 18 

45 Engine 55 

48 Rescue 3 

Peter J. Ganci, Jr., Chief of Department 54 Administration 

Charles W. Garbarini, Lieutenant 

Thomas Gardner, Firefighter 

Matthew D. Garvey, Firefighter 

Bruce H. Gary, Firefighter 

Gary P. Geidel, Firefighter 

Edward F. Geraghty, Deputy Chief 

Denis P. Germain, Firefighter 

Vincent F. Giammona, Captain 

James A. Giberson, Firefighter 

Ronnie E. Gies, Lieutenant 

Paul J. Gill, Firefighter 

John F. Ginley, Lieutenant 

Jeffrey J. Giordano, Firefighter 

John J. Giordano, I, Firefighter 

Keith A. Glascoe, Firefighter 

James M. Gray, Firefighter 

Joseph Grzelak, Battalion Chief 

Jose Antonio Guadalupe, Firefighter 

Geoffrey E. Guja, Lieutenant 

Joseph P. Gullickson, Lieutenant 

David Halderman, Lieutenant 

Vincent G. Halloran, Lieutenant 

Robert W. Hamilton, Firefighter 

Sean S. Hanley, Firefighter 

Thomas P. Hannafin, Firefighter 

Dana R. Hannon, Firefighter 

Daniel E. Harlin, Firefighter 

Harvey L. Harrell, Lieutenant 

Stephen G. Harrell, Lieutenant 

Timothy S. Haskell, Firefighter 

Thomas T. Haskell, Jr., Battalion Chief 

Terence S. Hatton, Captain 

Michael H. Haub, Firefighter 

Michael K. Healey, Lieutenant 

John F. Heffernan, Firefighter 

Ronnie L. Henderson, Firefighter 

44 Battalion 9 

39 Hazmat 1 

37 Squad 1 

51 Engine 40 

44 Rescue 1 

45 Battalion 9 

33 Ladder 2 

39 Ladder 5 

43 Ladder 35 

43 Squad 288 

34 Engine 54 

37 Engine 40 

45 Ladder 3 

47 Engine 37 

38 Ladder 21 

34 Ladder 20 

52 Battalion 48 

37 Engine 54 

47 Battalion 43 

37 Ladder 101 

40 Squad 18 

43 Ladder 8 

43 Squad 41 

35 Ladder 20 

36 Ladder 5 

29 Engine 26 

41 Ladder 2 

49 Rescue 5 

44 Battalion 7 

34 Squad 18 

37 Division 15 

41 Rescue 1 

34 Ladder 4 

42 Squad 41 

47 Ladder 11 

52 Engine 279 

106 APPENDIX B
Joseph P. Henry, Firefighter 

William L. Henry, Firefighter 

Thomas J. Hetzel, Firefighter 

Brian C. Hickey, Battalion Chief

Timothy B. Higgins, Lieutenant

Jonathon R. Hohmann, Firefighter 

Thomas P. Holohan, Firefighter 

Joseph G. Hunter, Firefighter 

Walter G. Hynes, Captain 

Jonathon L. Ielpi, Firefighter 

Frederick J. Ill, Jr., Captain 

William R. Johnston, Firefighter 

Andrew B. Jordan, Firefighter 

Karl H. Joseph, Firefighter 

Anthony M. Jovic, Lieutenant 

Angel L. Juarbe, Jr., Firefighter 

Mychal Judge, Chaplain 

Vincent D. Kane, Fire Marshal

Charles L. Kasper, Deputy Chief 

Paul H. Keating, Firefighter 

Thomas W. Kelly, Firefighter 

Thomas Richard Kelly, Lieutenant 

Richard J. Kelly, Jr., Firefighter 

Thomas J. Kennedy, Firefighter 

Ronald T. Kerwin, Lieutenant 

Michael Vernon Kiefer, Firefighter 

Robert King, Jr., Firefighter 

Scott Kopytko, Firefighter 

William E. Krukowski, Firefighter 

Kenneth B. Kumpel, Fire Marshal 

Thomas J. Kuveikis, Firefighter 

David J. LaForge, Firefighter 

William D. Lake, Firefighter 

Robert T. Lane, Firefighter 

Peter Langone, Firefighter 

Scott A. Larsen, Firefighter 

Joseph G. Leavey, Lieutenant 

Neil J. Leavy, Firefighter 

Daniel F. Libretti, Firefighter 

Robert T. Linnane, Firefighter 

Michael F. Lynch, Firefighter 

Michael F. Lynch, Lieutenant 

Michael J. Lyons, Firefighter 

Patrick Lyons, Lieutenant 

Joseph Maffeo, Firefighter 

William J. Mahoney, Firefighter 

25 

49 

33 

47 

43 

48 

36 

31 

46 

29 

49 

31 

36 

25 

39 

35 

68 

37 

54 

38 

50 

39 

50 

36 

42 

25 

36 

32 

36 

42 

48 

50 

44 

28 

41 

35 

45 

34 

43 

33 

30 

33 

32 

34 

30 

37 

Ladder 21

Rescue 1

Ladder 13

Rescue 4

Special Operations

Hazmat 1

Engine 6

Squad 288

Ladder 13

Squad 288

Ladder 2

Engine 6

Ladder 132

Engine 207

Battalion 47

Ladder 12

Fire Department Chaplain

Engine 22

Special Operations Command

Ladder 5

Ladder 105

Ladder 105

Ladder 11

Ladder 101

Squad 288

Ladder 132

Engine 33

Ladder 15

Ladder 21

Ladder 25

Squad 252

Ladder 20

Rescue 2

Engine 55

Squad 252

Ladder 15

Ladder 15

Engine 217

Rescue 2

Ladder 20

Engine 40

Ladder 4

Squad 41

Squad 252

Ladder 101

Rescue 4

APPENDIX B 107
Joseph E. Maloney, Firefighter 

Joseph R. Marchbanks, Jr., Deputy Chief

Charles J. Margiotta, Lieutenant 

Kenneth Joseph Marino, Firefighter 

John D. Marshall, Firefighter 

Peter C. Martin, Lieutenant 

Paul R. Martini, Lieutenant 

Joseph A. Mascali, Firefighter 

Keithroy M. Maynard, Firefighter 

Brian G. McAleese, Firefighter 

John K. McAvoy, Firefighter 

Thomas Joseph McCann, Firefighter 

William E. McGinn, Captain

William J. McGovern, Battalion Chief 

Dennis P. McHugh, Firefighter 

Robert D. McMahon, Firefighter 

Robert W. McPadden, Firefighter 

Terence P. McShane, Firefighter 

Timothy P. McSweeney, Firefighter 

Martin E. McWilliams, Firefighter 

Raymond M. Meisenheimer, Firefighter 

Charles R. Mendez, Firefighter 

Steve J. Mercado, Firefighter 

Douglas C. Miller, Firefighter 

Henry A. Miller, Jr., Firefighter 

Robert J. Minara, Firefighter 

Thomas Mingione, Firefighter 

Paul T. Mitchell, Lieutenant 

Louis J. Modafferi, Battalion Chief 

Dennis Mojica, Lieutenant 

Manuel Mojica, Firefighter 

Carl E. Molinaro, Firefighter 

Michael G. Montesi, Firefighter 

Thomas C. Moody, Captain 

John M. Moran, Battalion Chief 

Vincent Morello, Firefighter 

Christopher M. Mozzillo, Firefighter 

Richard T. Muldowney, Jr., Firefighter 

Michael D. Mullan, Firefighter 

Dennis M. Mulligan, Firefighter 

Raymond E. Murphy, Lieutenant 

Robert B. Nagel, Lieutenant 

45 

47 

44 

40 

35 

43 

37 

44 

30 

36 

47 

46 

43 

49 

34 

35 

30 

37 

37 

35 

46 

38 

38 

34 

51 

54 

34 

46 

45 

50 

37 

32 

39 

45 

42 

34 

27 

40 

34 

32 

46 

55 

John P. Napolitano, Lieutenant (promo fm FF) 33 

Peter A. Nelson, Firefighter 42 

Gerard T. Nevins, Firefighter 46 

Dennis Patrick O'Berg, Firefighter 28 

108 APPENDIX B 

Ladder 3

Battalion 57

Battalion 22

Rescue 1

Ladder 27

Rescue 2

Engine 201

Tactical Support 2

Engine 33

Engine 226

Ladder 3

Battalion 8

Squad 18

Battalion 2

Ladder 13

Ladder 20

Engine 23

Ladder 101

Ladder 3

Engine 22

Rescue 3

Ladder 7

Engine 40

Rescue 5

Ladder 105

Ladder 25

Ladder 132

Battalion 1

Rescue 5

Rescue 1

Squad 18

Ladder 2

Rescue 1

Division 1

Battalion 49

Ladder 35

Engine 55

Ladder 7

Ladder 12

Ladder 2

Ladder 16

Engine 58

Rescue 2

Rescue 4

Rescue 1

Ladder 105
Daniel O'Callaghan, Captain

Douglas E. Oelschlager, Firefighter

Joseph J. "Jay" Ogren, Firefighter 

Thomas G. O'Hagan, Lieutenant 

Samuel P. Oitice, Firefighter 

William S. O'Keefe, Captain 

Patrick J. O'Keefe, I, Firefighter 

Eric T. Olsen, Firefighter 

Jeffrey J. Olsen, Firefighter 

Steven J. Olson, Firefighter 

Kevin M. O'Rourke, Firefighter 

Michael J. Otten, Firefighter 

Jeffrey A. Palazzo, Firefighter 

Orio J. Palmer, Deputy Chief

Frank Palombo, Firefighter 

Paul J. Pansini, Fire Marshal

John M. Paolillo, Deputy Chief

James Pappageorge, Firefighter 

Robert E. Parro, Firefighter 

Durrell V. Pearsall, Jr., Firefighter 

Glenn C. Perry, Lieutenant 

Philip S. Petti, Lieutenant 

Kevin J. Pfeifer, Lieutenant 

Kenneth J. Phelan, Lieutenant 

Christopher J. Pickford, Firefighter 

Shawn E. Powell, Firefighter 

Vincent A. Princiotta, Firefighter 

Kevin M. Prior, Firefighter 

Richard A. Prunty, Battalion Chief 

Lincoln Quappe', Firefighter 

Michael T. Quilty, Lieutenant 

Leonard J. Ragaglia, Firefighter 

Michael Paul Ragusa, Firefighter 

Edward J. Rall, Firefighter 

Adam D. Rand, Firefighter 

Donald J. Regan, Firefighter 

Robert M. Regan, Lieutenant 

Christian Reganhard, Firefighter 

Kevin O. Reilly, Firefighter 

Vernon A. Richard, Captain

James C. Riches, Firefighter

Joseph R. Rivelli, Jr., Firefighter 

Michael Edward Roberts, Firefighter 

Michael Edward Roberts, Firefighter 

Anthony Rodriguez, Firefighter 

Matthew S. Rogan, Firefighter 

42 Ladder 4 

36 Ladder 15 

30 Ladder 3 

43 Battalion 4 

45 Ladder 4 

48 Division 15 

44 Rescue 1 

41 Ladder 15 

31 Engine 10 

37 Ladder 3 

44 Rescue 2 

42 Ladder 35 

33 Rescue 5 

45 Battalion 7 

46 Ladder 105 

35 Engine 10 

51 Battalion 11 

29 Engine 23 

35 Engine 8 

34 Rescue 4 

41 Battalion 12 

43 Battalion 7 

42 Engine 33 

41 Engine 217 

32 Engine 201 

32 Engine 207 

39 Ladder 7 

28 Squad 252 

57 Battalion 2 

38 Rescue 2 

42 Ladder 11 

36 Engine 54 

29 Engine 279 

44 Rescue 2 

30 Squad 288 

47 Rescue 3 

48 Ladder 118 

28 Ladder 131 

28 Engine 207 

53 Ladder 7 

29 Engine 4 

43 Ladder 25 

31 Engine 214 

30 Ladder 35 

36 Engine 279 

37 Ladder 11 

APPENDIX B 109
Nicholas P. Rossomando, Firefighter 35 Rescue 5 

Paul G. Ruback, Firefighter 50 Ladder 25 

Stephen Russell, Firefighter 40 Engine 55 

Michael T. Russo, Lieutenant 44 Special Operations 

Matthew L. Ryan, Battalion Chief 54 Battalion 1 

Thomas E. Sabella, Firefighter 44 Ladder 13 

Christopher A. Santora, Firefighter 23 Engine 54 

John A. Santore, Firefighter 49 Ladder 5 

Gregory T. Saucedo, Firefighter 31 Ladder 5 

Dennis Scauso, Firefighter 46 Hazmat 1 

John A. Schardt, Firefighter 34 Engine 201 

Fred C. Scheffold, Battalion Chief 57 Battalion 12 

Thomas Gerard Schoales, Firefighter 27 Engine 4 

Gerard P. Schrang, Firefighter 45 Rescue 3 

Gregory R. Sikorsky, Firefighter 34 Squad 41 

Stephen G. Siller, Firefighter 34 Squad 1 

Stanley S. Smagala, Jr., Firefighter 36 Engine 226 

Kevin J. Smith, Firefighter 47 Hazmat 1 

Leon Smith, Jr., Firefighter 48 Ladder 118 

Robert W. Spear, Jr., Firefighter 30 Engine 50 

Joseph P. Spor, Jr., Firefighter 35 Ladder 38 

Lawrence T. Stack, Battalion Chief 58 Battalion 50 

Timothy M. Stackpole, Captain 42 Division 11 

Gregory M. Stajk, Firefighter 46 Ladder 13 

Jeffrey Stark, Firefighter 30 Engine 230 

Benjamin Suarez, Firefighter 34 Ladder 21 

Daniel T. Suhr, Firefighter 37 Engine 216 

Christopher P. Sullivan, Lieutenant 39 Ladder 111 

Brian E. Sweeney, Firefighter 29 Rescue 1 

Sean P. Tallon, Firefighter 26 Ladder 10 

Allan Tarasiewicz, Firefighter 45 Rescue 5 

Paul A. Tegtmeier, Firefighter 41 Engine 4 

John Patrick Tierney, Firefighter 27 Ladder 9 

John J. Tipping, II, Firefighter 33 Ladder 4 

Hector L. Tirado, Jr., Firefighter 30 Engine 23 

Richard Bruce Van Hine, Firefighter 48 Squad 41 

Peter A. Vega, Firefighter 36 Ladder 118 

Lawrence G. Veling, Firefighter 44 Engine 235 

John T. Vigiano II, Firefighter 36 Ladder 132 

Sergio G. Villanueva, Firefighter 33 Ladder 132 

Lawrence J. Virgilio, Firefighter 38 Squad 18 

Robert F. Wallace, Lieutenant 43 Engine 205 

Jeffrey P. Walz, Lieutenant 37 Ladder 9 

Michael P. Warchola, Lieutenant 51 Ladder 5 

Patrick J. Waters, Captain 44 Special Operations 

Kenneth T. Watson, Firefighter 39 Engine 214 

110 APPENDIX B
Michael T. Weinberg, Firefighter 

David M. Weiss, Firefighter 

Timothy M. Welty, Firefighter 

Eugene M. Whelan, Firefighter 

Edward J. "Teddy" White, Firefighter 

Mark P. Whitford, Firefighter 

Glenn E. Wilkinson, Lieutenant 

John A. Williamson, Battalion Chief 

David T. Wooley, Captain 

Raymond York, Firefighter 

James J. Corrigan, Fire Safety Director

Philip T. Hayes, Deputy Fire Safety Director

William Wren, Fire Safety Director

34 Engine 1 

41 Rescue 1 

34 Squad 288 

31 Engine 230 

30 Engine 230 

31 Engine 23 

46 Engine 238 

46 Battalion 6 

54 Ladder 4 

45 Engine 285 

60 OCS Group 

69 OCS Group 

61 OCS Group 

APPENDIX B 111