USFA LODD: Pennsylvania Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.23.2020

 

On August 17, 2020, Firefighter David Closs, Sr., 67, and other firefighters from the Avis Fire Company #1, responded to a residential structure fire. Firefighter Closs was working scene safety a short distance away from the actual structure fire when he suffered a medical emergency and was immediately taken to the local hospital.  He passed away on August 23, 2020 from an apparent heart attack.  

Our condolences to the Closs Family & Friends, Avis Fire Company #1, and to all affected by Firefighter David Closs, Sr.'s passing.    

To date, 57 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Florida Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.25.2020

 

On Tuesday, August 25, 2020, Firefighter/First Responder Brian Stephen Smith, 56, and other fire department personnel, responded to a call of a water rescue on the beach.  Firefighter/First Responder Smith went into the water to rescue a man and a juvenile and got swept up by the current.  He was rescued from the water and immediately taken to the Weems Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  

Our condolences to the Smith Family & Friends, St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter/First Responder Brian Stephen Smith's passing.    

To date, 56 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Michigan Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.23.2020

On Friday, July 31, 2020, Captain Joseph Liedel, 48, while in the process of responding to a medical call, left his residence to get into his vehicle when he collapsed next to it.  He was immediately rushed to the Monroe Promedica Regional Hospital and then flown to Toledo Promedica Hospital for further care.  Captain Liedel passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2020, from a CVA.   

Our condolences to the Liedel Family & Friends, Monroe Charter Township Fire Department, and to all affected by Captain Joseph Liedel's passing.    

To date, 55 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Texas Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.18.2020

Captain Bryant Anderson, 45, during his official tour of duty, came in contact with persons treating patients who were COVID-19 positive and exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.  Captain Anderson remained at home for several days attempting to recover, but his condition worsened until he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. He was treated in the Intensive Care Unit for several weeks, until being placed on a ventilator.  Captain Anderson passed away from complications related to the virus on August 18, 2020.  

Our condolences to the Anderson Family & Friends, City of Converse, TX Fire Department, and to all affected by Captain Bryant Anderson's passing.    

To date, 54 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Idaho Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 05.21.2020

 

On May 15, 2020, Salmon Airbase Manager/Wildland Firefighter Eric R. Ellis, 45, complained of left arm numbness during mandated physical fitness training. The day after the incident, he was hospitalized to treat a heart condition.  Salmon Airbase      Manager/Wildland Firefighter Ellis passed away on May 21, 2020, from an apparent heart attack.   

Our condolences to the Ellis Family & Friends, Salmon Air Base, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and to all affected by Salmon Airbase Manager/Wildland Firefighter Eric R. Ellis' passing.    

To date, 53 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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 07.25.2020

Firefighter III/Paramedic Jose M. Perez, 44, contracted COVID-19 as a result of numerous exposures from positive COVID-19 patients during the course of his official duty for the Los Angeles City Fire Department.  He subsequently passed away on July 25, 2020, from the virus.   

Our condolences to the Perez Family & Friends, Los Angeles City Fire Department , and to all affected by Firefighter III/Paramedic Jose M. Perez's passing.    

To date, 52 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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 08.11.2020

On August 11, 2020, Fire Engineer Peter Hein, 61, was working with the U.S. Forest Service at the Stagecoach Wildfire in Kern County.  He suffered a medical emergency and was immediately transported to the hospital where he passed away from an apparent heart attack.   

Our condolences to the Hein Family & Friends, Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Engineer Peter Hein's passing.    

To date, 51 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Hawaii Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.08.2020

 

On Saturday, August 8, 2020, Fire Equipment Operator Eric Hayashi, 49, responded to an EMS call at a residence.  While at the scene, Fire Equipment Operator Hayashi experienced a medical emergency.  He was immediately taken to the Hilo Medical Center where he passed away a short time later from an apparent heart attack.   

Our condolences to the Hayashi Family & Friends, City of Hawaii Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Equipment Operator Eric Hayashi's passing.

To date, 50 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Florida Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.04.2020

Firefighters from the City of Naples Fire-Rescue responded to a medical emergency at a nursing home.  The patient was exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and results were received the next day that showed the patient was positive for the virus. Firefighter Anthony Craig “Tony” Christensen, 55, did not respond to this call.  However, he was in direct contact with fellow firefighters who had been exposed to the virus from the nursing home.  He subsequently contracted COVID-19 and passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

  

Our condolences to the Christensen Family & Friends, City of Naples Fire-Rescue, and to all affected by Firefighter Anthony Craig “Tony” Christensen's passing.

     

To date, 49 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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 Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.04.2020

Firefighter Alec Tannenbaum, 29, completed an on-duty shift Tuesday with the West Point Fire Department before responding to numerous storm-related alarms as a member of the Vails Gate Fire Department. Firefighter Tannenbaum was found unresponsive in his home late Tuesday, August 4, 2020. He was immediately transported to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent heart attack.

  

Our condolences to the Tannenbaum Family & Friends, Vails Gate Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter Alec Tannenbaum's passing.

     

To date, 48 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Michigan Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.02.2020

On August 2, 2020, Sergeant Steven Splan, 46, was on fire duty and, at approximately 1200hrs, helped to remove a tree blocking a roadway. Sergeant Splan, later in the evening during patrol, went on a meal break to the public safety building, where he was found unresponsive in the department kitchen. CPR was immediately performed and he was taken to the local hospital where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent heart attack late in the evening on August 2, 2020.

  

Our condolences to Splan Family & Friends, Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety, and to all affected by Firefighter/Sergeant Steven Splan's passing.

     

To date, 47 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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: Texas Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.03.2020

On August 3, 2020, Firefighter/Paramedic Gerardo “Jerry” Pacheco, 50, was battling COVID-19 when he passed away.  Firefighter/Paramedic Pacheco contracted the virus from exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.

  

Our condolences to Pacheco Family & Friends, Houston Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter/Paramedic Gerardo “Jerry” Pacheco's passing.

   

To date, 46 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2020. 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.