Firefighter Close Calls

  Fire Captain Killed in Floor Collapse During Restaurant – White Shutter Restaurant Fire – Bay Ridge, Brooklyn – June 27, 1961 On June 27, 1961, FDNY Fire Captain Walter Bersig of Ladder 149 was killed during an early morning three-alarm fire in a one-story restaurant when the floor collapsed and Captain Bersig was hurled […]

Firefighter/Engineer Fatally Injured After Falling Through Translucent Corrugated Roof Panel While Searching for Fire Extension – Denver, Colorado – June 28, 2015 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2015-13 On June 28, 2015, Denver Firefighter/Engineer John Whelan was critically injured after falling through a translucent corrugated roof panel. The firefighter was the engineer on Truck 8, […]

Five Firefighters Killed By Wall Collapse After Backdraft During Warehouse Fire – Minneapolis, Minnesota – June 27, 1895 On June 27, 1895, five Minneapolis firefighters were killed after a backdraft collapsed an exterior wall of a burning crockery warehouse. The fire was spotted by alert firefighters at a nearby fire station and, after quickly sounding […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Rope Rescue Attempt During Three-Alarm Multiple Dwelling Fire – Harlem, Manhattan, New York – June 27, 1980 On June 27, 1980, New York Fire Department (FDNY) Firefighter Gerard Frisby of Ladder 28, and Firefighter Lawrence Fitzpatrick of Rescue 3 were killed during a three-alarm fire in a seven-story apartment building in […]

Acting Fire Officer Dies from Floor Collapse during Interior Fire Attack –Leonardtown, Maryland – June 27, 2023 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2023-09 & After Action Report & Improvement Plan On June 27, 2023, Firefighter Brice Clayton Trossbach of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Station Fire Department died after falling into a basement […]

Firefighter Fatally Injured in Ceiling Collapse During Fire in Abandoned School – Brooklyn, New York – June 26, 1964 On June 26, 1964, FDNY Fireman Ernest Marquart of Squad 3 was fatally injured in a ceiling collapse while operating during a fire that was set by children playing in an abandoned three-story brick and wood […]

Three Firefighters and Three Civilians Killed in Explosion of Dynamite Cargo Truck– Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania – June 26, 1964 On June 26, 1964, Marshalls Creek Volunteer Firemen Leonard Mosier, Francis Earl Miller, and Edward Franklin Hines were killed along with three civilians when a tractor trailer truck filled with an unlabeled cargo of 15 tons […]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is responding to an ambulance fire late Thursday afternoon. The fire broke out inside an ambulance at Monterey Road and Lassen Drive, across from Monterey Elementary School. CSFD reported that ambulance crews were on scene of a home for a medical emergency when it […]

Three Whidbey Island firefighters were injured today when a home exploded in Greenbank. The firefighters are not yet being identified, but they are from Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, and South Whidbey Fire/EMS; the injured include two chiefs and one firefighter. Two were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center, the third to Island Hospital […]

Deputy Fire Chief Dies after Falling Through Floor in Residential Structure During Fire Attack – Lafayette, Indiana – June 25, 2006 – NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report F2006-24 On June 25, 2006, Deputy Fire Chief Steven Smith of the Wea Township Volunteer Fire Department in Lafayette, Indiana died after falling through a failed section of floor […]

From the Kenosha County Scanner Facebook Page: A Tuesday evening house fire in the Village of Somers resulted in significant damage to a residence and sent one firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries. According to Somers Fire & Rescue, crews were dispatched at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 23 to a reported structure fire […]

Arizona firefighters will no longer have to fight insurance companies over a typo in state law. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law Monday what’s known as the “comma bill.” PHOENIX — Arizona firefighters will no longer have to fight insurance companies over a typo in state law. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law […]

Fire Lieutenant Killed in Pier Warehouse Fire While Searching for Lost Firefighters – Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts – June 24, 1994 On June 24, 1994, Boston Fire Lieutenant Steven Minehan of Ladder 15 died after leading his company in a successful search for two other trapped firefighters at a smoky nine alarm blaze in a vacant […]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – On Monday, Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins filed a lawsuit against the Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina and its president, Roger Odachowski, who he says is blaming him for the death of a firefighter in 2023. Jenkins’ lawsuit claims the defendants published a press release on June 19, 2023, […]

POCA, W.Va. — A Putnam County firefighter was injured Monday night after a 10-foot fall through a floor. The Poca Community Volunteer Fire Department said the firefighter was part of a crew responding to a box alarm, and fell about 10 feet “through a comprised floor.” The VFD said the firefighter avoided a truly severe outcome, […]

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. – Two firefighters and three other people were injured after a large house fire broke out early Tuesday morning in Blue Island. The fire erupted at a home near Fountain Hills Golf Club and drew a large response from firefighters, who spent several hours battling the blaze. Video from the scene showed heavy smoke pouring […]

Fire Captain Killed by Collapsing Parapet Wall at Two-Alarm Discotheque Fire – Brooklyn, New York – June 23, 1977 On June 23, 1977, FDNY Fire Captain John Stelmack of Engine 284 was killed by a falling parapet wall at a late-night two-alarm fire in a discotheque in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. While […]

Two Firefighters Killed and Two Workers Fatally Burned in Tank Explosion While Battling Fire in Asphalt Plant – California Refining Company – Perth Amboy, New Jersey – June 23, 1949  On June 23, 1949, Volunteer Firemen Lawrence Dambach and Howard Adams died in an explosion while operating a hoseline at a fire in an asphalt […]

A firefighter was seriously injured and two residents were hurt after a fire ripped through a mixed-use building in Clinton Hill early Monday morning.The fire broke out just after 3 a.m. at 504 Classon Ave., near Putnam Avenue, according to the FDNY.Fire officials say the flames started on the first floor of the three-story building […]

Two Firefighters Killed in Wall Collapse Following Explosion in Factory – Potter Oil Cloth Company – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – June 22, 1915 On June 22, 1915, Philadelphia Battalion Chief William James and Ladderman John Hillman of Truck Company 7 were caught under a collapsing wall after an explosion during a fire in an oilcloth and […]