Line-Of-Duty Deaths

Medical collapse likely led to Vt. LODD
Duty Death: John Horton - [Marlboro, Vermont]
August 8, 2009
MARLBORO, Vt. — A Vermont firefighter responding to a car accident died in the line of duty. Officials believe that John "Jack" Horton collapsed to the ground from a medical problem before another firefighter accidentally backed the fire truck up, running over Horton. Read More

Ariz. fire captain dies in his sleep at station
Duty Death: Eric Allan Tinkham - [Queen Creek, Arizona]
August 1, 2009
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — A Queen Creek Fire Department captain died unexpectedly in his sleep while on duty Saturday.
Capt. Eric Tinkham, 44, was the town's first on-duty death. Members of Tinkham's crew at fire station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road, found the 24-year fire veteran unresponsive about 7 a.m. and couldn't wake him, a department statement said. Read More

Calif. firefighter dies in helicopter training fall
Duty Death: Thomas Marovich - [Alturas, California]
July 22nd, 2009
WILLOW CREEK, Calif. — A Hayward man working as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter died after falling from a helicopter during a training exercise in Humboldt County, authorities said Wednesday. Read More

Mo. firefighter dies from injury during physical training
Duty Death: David Grass Jr. - [Ste. Genevieve, Missouri]
July 9, 2009
STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — A Missouri firefighter died Wednesday after experiencing a medical emergency. Read More

Fall from truck kills NY firefighter
Duty Death: Robert Johnson - [Mahopac Falls, New York]
July 7, 2009
MAHOPAC FALLS, N.Y. — A volunteer New York firefighter has died, months after he was injured during a safety demonstration. Read More

Pa. firefighter collapses, dies at fire
Duty Death: Ryan Wingard - [Strattanville , Pennsylvania]
July 6, 2009
STRATTANVILLE, Pa. — A Pa. firefighter collapsed and died while fighting a fire Monday morning. Read More

Firefighter killed on the job ID'd
Duty Death: Allan "Pickles" LePage
June 30, 2009
WAKEFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) - Kingston fire officials identified the firefighter who was fatally injured while working on a ladder truck Monday during an afternoon news conference Tuesday. Read More

BLM Firefighter Killed By Falling Tree
Duty Death: Brett Stearns
June 29, 2009
DENVER -- A Bureau of Land Management firefighter was killed Friday when he was hit by a falling tree. Read More

Pa. firefighter suffers fatal heart attack
Duty Death: William Thompson - [Dushore, Pennsylvania]
June 22, 2009
DUSHORE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania firefighter suffered an apparent heart attack and died while on his way to work Thursday. Read More

La. LODD due to stroke
Duty Death: Alan M. Hermel - [Haughton, Louisiana]
June 22, 2009
HAUGHTON, La. — A Louisiana firefighter died in March after responding to a vehicle crash, according to a USFA LODD report released last week. Read More

Kan. firefighter dies after fighting house fire
Duty Death: Lyle Lewis - [Alton, Kansas]
June 18th, 2009
ALTON, Kan. — An Osborne County firefighter died Tuesday in the line of duty, Kansas State Firefighter Association Secretary Steve Hirsch announced today. Read More

SC firefighter dies surveying for downed power lines
Duty Death: Jimmy Cameron - [Blackstock, South Carolina]
June 18th, 2009
CHESTER, S.C. — A volunteer firefighter had a heart attack and died in his car Tuesday evening while surveying the land for downed trees and power lines in Chester, officials say. Read More

Ohio firefighter dies after collapse during pump training
Duty Death: Conrad Mansfield - [Blanchard, Ohio]
June 16, 2009
BLANCHARD, Ohio — An Ohio firefighter died Sunday, four days after he collapsed while participating in pump training. Read More

Maine firefighter-paramedic dies after collapse, surgery
Duty Death: Debra Cole - [South Portland, Maine]
June 12th, 2009
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A South Portland firefighter-paramedic died Thursday afternoon due to an apparent stroke, according to FirefighterCloseCalls. Read More

Va. firefighter dies after medical problem at scene
Duty Death: Jeffrey H. Reed - [Pulaski, Virginia]
June 10, 2009
PULASKI, Va. — A Virginia firefighter died Monday due to a medical issue suffered at the scene of a residential structure fire. Read More

NC teen firefighter killed in wreck en route to call
Duty Death: Matthew Douglas Tramel - [Pembroke, North Carolina]
June 5, 2009
LUMBERTON, N.C. — An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter was killed today when he lost control of his car on Deep Branch Road as he was answering a fire call. Read More

Ohio fire captain dies during charity basketball game
Duty Death: James M. Hall - [Canton, Ohio]
June 3, 2009
CANTON, Ohio — A City Fire Department captain died this afternoon at a charity basketball tournament game he and fellow firefighters were playing against police officers. Capt. James M. Hall, 40, of Plain Township, was pronounced dead at 3:04 p.m. at Aultman Hospital, said Rick Walters, investigator for Stark County Coroner P.S. Murthy. Read More

Miss. firefighter dies while driving to fire
Duty Death: George A. Wimberly - [Stonewall, Mississippi]
May 26, 2009
STONEWALL, Miss. — Flags are flying half staff in the town of Stonewall, as the town honors one of its own. Read More

Mass. firefighter dies of heart attack on duty
Line of Duty Death: Paul J. Roberts
May 25, 2009
BEVERLY —When firefighters from the North Beverly fire station were ordered to cover headquarters on Friday afternoon, while others rushed to assist with a three-alarm house fire in Peabody, firefighter Paul J. Roberts failed to respond. Read More

La. firefighter suffers fatal heart attack
Duty Death: Frankie Nelson - [Shreveport, Louisiana]
May 13, 2009
SHREVEPORT, La. — A battalion safety officer at the Shreveport, La., Fire Department suffered a fatal heart attack Sunday evening. Read More

Houston cadet dies after collapse during physical training
Duty Death: Cohnway M. Johnson - [Houston, Texas]
May 6, 2009
HOUSTON — Houston Fire Department cadet Cohnway M. Johnson died early this morning at Hermann Memorial Hospital. According to the Chronicle, the 26-year-old Johnson collapsed last Wednesday during an early morning jog as part of the department's routine physical training. Read More

Firefighting plane crashes in Utah; crew of 3 die
DutyDeath: Thomas L. Risk, Michael Wayne Flynn, Brian Joseph Buss
April 26, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY — A converted military plane crashed Saturday in heavy fog in the mountains that frame the Salt Lake valley, killing three members of a private firefighting company, authorities said. Read More

Kan. firefighter collapses, dies after grass fire
Duty Death: Dennis M. Simmons - [Stafford County, 22]
April 24, 2009
STAFFORD COUNTY, Kan. — A Kansas firefighter died Tuesday after he suffered a heart attack while returning from a grass fire call. Read More

Firefighter dies after fall at station
Duty Death: Patrick Reardon
April 21, 2009
New Haven (AP) - New Haven officials say a city firefighter has died of a brain injury 10 days after falling at a fire station.
Read More

Responding Md. fire chief killed in crash
Duty Death - Charles Fletcher "Buck" Clough Jr.
April 15, 2009
SUDLERSVILLE, Md. — The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office say the chief of the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company died in a vehicle accident in Sudlersville Wednesday night. Read More

HFD mourns firefighters killed in line of duty
Duty Deaths: Capt. James Harlow & Damion Hobbs
April 12, 2009
Two Houston firefighters died early Easter morning trying to save an elderly couple from their blazing home.
Capt. James Harlow, 50, and rookie firefighter Damion Hobbs, 30, didn’t know the homeowners had already escaped. The couple, both in their 80s, were safely down the street by the time firefighters arrived. Read More

Small-plane crash kills pilot in Wisconsin
Line of Duty Death: Heath Van Handel
April 9, 2009
PITTSVILLE, Wis. - A state Department of Natural Resources plane being used to help spot grass fires crashed Wednesday, killing the pilot, authorities said.

Wis. firefighter dies after readying trucks for brush fire
Duty Death: John Weber - [Eau Claire, Wisconsin]
April 7, 2009
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — A Wisconsin firefighter died after responding to ready trucks for a brush fire Saturday, according to a report by the U.S. Fire Administration. Read More

Pa. LODD ruled homicide
Duty Death: Robert Kubicki - [Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]
April 3, 2009
LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — More information is coming to light about the crash that killed a firefighter in Luzerne County. Read More

Ill. firefighter dies day after discomfort during hose test
Duty Death: John William Jeffers - [Wellington, Illinois]
April 2, 2009
WELLINGTON, Ill. — An Illinois firefighter died Thursday after reporting discomfort after he and other firefighters tested a fire hose. Read More

NJ firefighter collapses after rescue
Duty Death: Manny Rivera - [Trenton, New Jersey]
April 1, 2009
TRENTON, N.J. — Trenton's bravest are mourning a firefighter who died weeks after he suffered an apparent heart attack while rescuing a man. Read More

Motorcycle accident kills Miss. firefighter
Duty Death: Robert Allen France - [Stateline, Mississippi]
March 30, 2009
STATELINE, Miss. — A Mississippi firefighter-EMT was killed Monday when his motorcycle struck a deer. Read More

Ala. fire chief killed after being struck by car
Duty Death: Mike Gilbreath - [Double Springs, Alabama]
March 27th, 2009
DOUBLE SPRINGS, Ala. — A fire chief was killed Friday morning while removing a tree from a road. Read More

Firefighter Discovered Dead At Station
Duty Death: Robert Strang
March 26th, 2009
MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A Melbourne fire lieutenant died unexpectedly at his fire station Thursday night less than an hour after fighting a blaze at a downtown office complex, officials said. Read More

Fire chief dies in fire at Hydro grain elevator
Line of Duty Death - Fire Chief Nolan Schmidt
March 23rd, 2009
HYDRO -- Fire, heavy smoke and poor ventilation inside a grain elevator were too much for firefighters who lost their chief and suffered smoke inhalation injuries today in Hydro. Read More

NC firefighter dies after responding to woods fire
Duty Death: Gregory Carroll Cooke - [Whitakers, North Carolina]
March 23rd, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. — A volunteer firefighter who suffered a heart attack while working at a woods fire died Saturday. Read More

Mo. firefighter dies fighting brush fire
Duty Death: Lt. William Roger Vorwark - [ODESSA, Mo.]
March 16th, 2009
ODESSA, Mo. — A Mo. firefighter died after collapsing while fighting a brush fire Saturday.
Read More

Pa. fire police officer dies after collapse
Duty Death: John G. Lawrence - [Bart Township, Pennsylvania]
March 9th,2009
BART TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Pa. firefighter died after collapsing while on duty at a fundraising event Saturday. Read More

Fla. firefighter dies of hepatitis infection
Duty Death: Fred Pierno Jr. - [Martin County, Florida]
March 2nd, 2009
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — The Martin County Fire-Rescue Division is mourning the loss of one of its own. Fred Pierno Jr. died Wednesday at his Port Saint Lucie home due to an illness he contracted on the job. Read More

Ohio firefighter dies at station house
Duty Death: Michael J. Darrington - [Toledo, Ohio]
March 2nd, 2009
TOLEDO, Ohio — A 25-year veteran Toledo firefighter and paramedic died Friday afternoon while on duty at one of the department's stations, Chief Michael Wolever said yesterday. Read More

Ga. firefighter killed in rollover, brother injured
Duty Death: Dereck North
February 24th, 2009
STOCKTON, Ga. — Tragedy struck a Lanier County firefighting family Monday as a wreck involving a fire truck killed one firefighter and injured his brother, according to a county fire official. Read More

Okla. firefighter dies after battling grass fire
Duty Death: John Adams
February 20th, 2009
SILVER CITY, Okla. (AP) — A Silver City firefighter has died after helping to extinguish a grass fires near the northwestern Creek County community. Read More

2 W.Va. firefighters killed fighting mobile home fire
Duty Death: Lt. Johnnie Hammons and Timothy Nicholas
February 19th, 2009
CRAIGSVILLE, W.Va. — Two volunteer firefighters died Thursday night while tackling a mobile home fire in West Virginia. Read More

Pa. fire police captain dies of on-duty heart attack
Duty Death: Albert G. Eberle Jr. - [Roslyn, Pennsylvania]
February 17th, 2009
ROSLYN, Pa. — A fire police captain with 50 years of service died Sunday at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Read More

Ala. firefighter dies of unknown cause
Duty Death: Jeff Isbell - [Enterprise, Alabama]
February 11th, 2009
ENTERPRISE, Ala. — An Enterprise firefighter was found dead Tuesday morning in a Tuscaloosa hotel room where he was participating in a class at the Alabama Fire College. Read More

NC firefighter dies after on-scene heart attack
Duty Death: William "Gray" Parsons - [Millers Creek, North Carolina]
February 2nd, 2009 MILLERS CREEK, NC — A volunteer firefighter died Saturday of an apparent heart attack after suffering chest pains at the scene of a fire, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Read More

NY EMT shot dead by patient
Duty Death: Mark B. Davis - [Cape Vincent, New York]
January 31st, 2009
CAPE VINCENT, NY — An EMT was shot and killed by a patient he was trying to treat in New York on Friday. Read More

Fla. volunteer dies at scene of crash
Duty Death: Richard Rhea - [Crawfordville, Florida]
January 24th, 2009
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — A volunteer firefighter has died while responding to a vehicle crash south of Tallahassee. Read More

Boston firefighter killed when ladder truck crashes into building
Duty Death: Lt. Kevin Kelley - [Boston, Massachusetts]
January 9th, 2009
BOSTON — A Boston Fire Department ladder truck coming down a hill plowed through an intersection Friday and crashed into a high-rise apartment building, killing one firefighter and seriously injuring a second. Read More

Miss. fire captain dies fighting New Year's Eve blaze
Duty Death: Richard Lee Montgomery - [Booneville, Mississippi]
January 5th, 2009
BOONEVILLE, Miss. — Richard Lee Montgomery was described by dozens of people on Saturday as a dedicated and unselfish hero.
Montgomery, a captain of the Pisgah Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Hobo Volunteer Fire Department, was laid to rest laid to rest with honor at Oaklawn Memorial Park by many colleagues, friends and family. He died on New Year's Eve while fighting a house fire in Marietta. Read More

Okla. firefighter dies in crash with son
Duty Death: John Myers - [Atoka County, Oklahoma]
January 4th, 2009
ATOKA, Okla. — Two vehicles battling a grass fire collided head-on along a smoke-shrouded road in Atoka County, fatally injuring a 61-year-old firefighter.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the second vehicle was driven by the victim's son. Read More