USFA LODD: North Carolina Fire Lieutenant On-Duty Death Notification 08.27.2015

Fire Lieutenant Chris Phillips, 41, on August 27, 2015, passed away from an apparent heart attack several hours after responding to a fatal motor vehicle accident on Edmiston Road near Mt. Ulla, North Carolina.

               

Our condolences to the Phillips Family & Friends, Locke Township Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Lieutenant Chris Phillips' passing.

  

To date, 58 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: New York State Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.22.2015

On August 22, 2015 at 2135hrs, an hour after responding to a commercial structure fire, Firefighter Sesso participated in a fire department parade including multiple fire departments. On his way home, Firefighter Sesso suffered a cardiac arrest. Firefighter Lawrence G. Sesso was transported to the Southside Hospital but did not survive his injury.

               
Our condolences to the Sesssc Family & Friends, Sayville Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter Lawrence G Sesso's passing.

  

To date, 57 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: 3 Washington Wildfire Firefighters On-Duty Death Notification 08.19.2015

Firefighter Richard Wheeler age 31, Firefighter Andrew Zajac age 26, and Firefighter Tom Zbyszewski age 20, on August 19, 2015 were killed and one additional firefighter was injured when the Twisp wildfire trapped them in their apparatus on state forest land. The firefighters, members of an engine crew from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, were involved in initial attack operations on the fire near Woods Canyon and Twisp River Roads in Washington State when their vehicle crashed and fire overtook it after winds suddenly shifted. The injured firefighter remains in the hospital in critical condition. Several other firefighters with dozer crews were also reported to have been injured. Investigation into the fatal incident continues.

               
Our condolences to the Wheeler, Zajac, & Zbyszewski Families & Friends, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and to all affected by Firefighter Richard Wheeler’s, Firefighter Andrew Zajac’s, and Firefighter Tom Zbyszewski's passing.

  

To date, 54, 55, 56 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: North Carolina Fire Lieutenant On-Duty Death Notification 08.17.2015

Lieutenant Christopher Joe Daniels, 40, on August 17, 2015 arrived on shift at 0600hrs and per his normal routine ran for 30 minutes. Lieutenant Daniels returned to the department's day room and was later found unresponsive at 0723hrs when members responded to a call. The nature and cause of fatal injury is still to be determined.

  

Our condolences to the Daniels Family & Friends, Pine Level Volunteer Fire Department, and to all affected by Lieutenant Christopher Joe Daniels' passing.

  

To date, 53 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: North Carolina Fire Chief On-Duty Death Notification 08.14.2015

On August 14 at 2148hrs, while on standby at a local race track, Fire Chief James D. “JD” Robinson, 59, told other members that he was going to take a break and rest. A short time later when members realized that he was not breathing, CPR was begun immediately and EMS was contacted. Fire Chief Robinson was treated at the scene and transported to Murphy Medical Center but succumbed to his injury; the nature and cause of which is still to be reported.

   
Our condolences to the Robinson Family & Friends, Brasstown Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Chief James D. “JD” Robinson's passing.

  

To date, 52 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: California Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.08.2015

Firefighter Michael “Mike” Hallenbeck, 21, a member of Organized Crew 36 on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, on August 8, 2015 at 1730hrs, was struck and killed by a tree during the initial attack on the Sierra fire that broke out south of the Echo Summit mountain pass in California. A second firefighter was injured in the same incident but was treated and released from the hospital.

   
Our condolences to the Hallenbeck Family & Friends, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and to all affected by Firefighter Michael “Mike” Hallenbeck's passing.

  

To date, 51 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA LODD: California Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 07.30.2015

Fire Captain David "Dave"Ruhl, 38, was driving alone down a road scouting the Frog Fire Wildfire in the Modoc National Forest when his vehicle was overrun by the fire and Ruhl was killed.

  

When crews fighting the blaze lost communication with Captain Ruhl his location was unknown so the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office was called for assistance in searching for the missing firefighter.

Search and rescue personnel started the initial search at approximately 2000hrs and continued until about midnight when it was halted because of hazardous fire conditions. Efforts began again at 0600hrs, July 31 and the Captain Ruhl’s body was discovered at 0917hrs.

Our condolences to the Ruhl Family & Friends, Big Valley Ranger District of the Modoc National Forest, and to all affected by Firefighter/Captain David "Dave" Ruhl's passing.

  

To date, 50 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page. 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)