USFA LODD: Pennsylvania Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.23.2018

Fire Chief Michael Reese, 53, responded to a vehicle accident during the early morning hours on August 23, 2018. Several hours later that day, Chief Reese suddenly passed away at his home. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.
   
Our condolences to the Reese Family & Friends, Willow Street Fire Company, and to all affected by Fire Chief Michael Reese’s passing. 

To date, 65 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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: Utah Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.13.2018

On August 13, 2018 Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, 42, was injured while on the fire line of the Ranch Fire, a part of the Mendocino Complex Fire north of San Francisco, California. Battalion Chief Burchett was airlifted to a local hospital where he passed away from the injuries he sustained. The nature and cause of the fatal injury are still to be reported. Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett was one of five firefighters sent from the Draper City Fire Department in Utah to help fight the California wildland fires through a mutual aid agreement with CAL FIRE.
   
Our condolences to the Burchett Family & OrDraper City Fire Department, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett’s passing. 

To date, 64 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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 Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.13.2018

On Aug. 13, 2018 at 11:09 a.m., Assistant Chief Jeff Holden, 32, responded to a rescue call for a trapped person that required him to enter a trench on West Ten Road in Efland, North Carolina. At 2:50 p.m., while still working his shift, Assistant Chief Holden was found unresponsive at the fire station. All attempts to revive him by the crew on shift and additional emergency workers were unsuccessful. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.
   
Our condolences to the Holden Family & Orange Rural Fire Department, and to all affected by Assistant Chief Jeff Holden’s passing. 

To date, 63 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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: Oklahoma Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.10.2018

On August 10, 2018 Assistant Chief Madison "Maddy" Lee Clinton, Jr., 54, was engaged in fire suppression activities at a residential structure fire.  During the operation, the structure collapsed and pinned him under the roof.  Assistant Chief Clinton died at the scene.
   
Our condolences to the Clinton Family & Friends, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, and to all affected by Assistant Chief Madison "Maddy" Lee Clinton, Jr.’s passing. 

To date, 62 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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 08.09.2018

On August 9, 2018, at approximately 00:19 hrs., in a single vehicle crash, Heavy Equipment Mechanic Andrew Brake, 40, the sole occupant, had been driving northbound on Highway 99 when the CAL FIRE support vehicle ran off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames. The collision happened near Los Molinos in Tehama County. Heavy Equipment Mechanic Andrew Brake was assigned to work the Carr Fire burning in Shasta and Trinity counties.  

Our condolences to the Brake Family & Friends, CAL FIRE, and to all affected by Heavy Equipment Mechanic Andrew Brake’s passing. 

To date, 61 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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: Georgia Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.08.2018

On August 8, 2018 Firefighter Barry Everett, 42, worked a 24-shift and responded to multiple emergencies, the last emergency being at 0000 hrs. During shift change, at 0800hrs, Firefighter Barry Everett was found deceased in bed at the fire station. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.  

Our condolences to the Everett Family & Friends, DeKalb County Fire Rescue, and to all affected by Chief Firefighter Barry Everett’s passing.  

To date, 60 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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 Jersey Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.02.2018

On July 30, 2018, Chief Engineer/Firefighter Pasquale "Pepper" DiBenedetto, 68, responded from his home to the firehouse for an activated CO alarm call. An in-station crew and the chief responded to investigate and found it due to a faulty battery.  Chief Engineer/Firefighter DiBenedetto stood-by in-station for additional calls and to place the apparatus back into service.  Upon completion, he then returned home.  The next morning, Engineer/Firefighter DiBenedetto complained that he wasn’t feeling well and had a friend transport him to a local hospital.  He suffered a massive stroke while en route, and required immediate surgery upon arrival.  Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and he passed away in the hospital on August 2, 2018.  

Our condolences to the DiBenedetto Family & Friends, Englishtown Fire Department, and to all affected by Chief Engineer/Firefighter Pasquale "Pepper" DiBenedetto’s passing.  

To date, 59 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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 07.27.2018

On July 27, 2018 Firefighter/Bulldozer Operator Don Smith, 81, was operating his bulldozer while battling the Carr Fire in Northern California's Shasta County when he was overtaken by flames. Smith's body was found by emergency personnel in the area of Benson Drive and Rock Creek Road in Redding, California. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.  

Our condolences to the Smith Family & Friends, CAL FIRE, and to all affected by Firefighter/Bulldozer Operator Don Smith’s passing.  

To date, 58 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. 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.)