On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Cortez, 42, was participating in a drill at the Mission District Training Facility when he was injured. Paramedics started immediate care and transported him to the San Francisco General Hospital Trauma Center where he succumbed to his injuries just before 1100hrs. An investigation into this accident is underway and the cause of his death has not yet been determined.
Our condolences to the Cortez Family & Friends, San Francisco Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Cortez's passing.
On September 10, 2017 Battalion Chief Terry Smerdel, 59, returned from an early morning fire alarm call, and was later found by coworkers in his office, unresponsive. Advanced Life Support measures were immediately initiated. He was pronounced deceased surrounded by his Fire Department Family, and later joined at the station by the Department’s Chaplain and the Smerdel family.
Our condolences to the Smerdel Family & Friends, San Francisco Fire Department, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Terry Smerdel’s passing. To date, 67 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2017. 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.)
At least 150 SFFD firefighters, about half the Bay City’s firefighting force, responded and combated a five-alarm blaze where strong winds were a factor, fanning the flames, and pushed the fire that engulfed two structures
It was reported that the fire started in the backyard of a 3-story condominium at 1502 Golden Gate Ave, to where the fast moving fire quickly caught an adjacent 4-story apartment build, located on 1015 Pierce, on fire as well shortly around noon. Two other structures, including a school were damaged at the fire scene.
At one point in the firefighting efforts the blaze was so hot and intense a search for trapped residents could not be done. Firefighters evacuated also for a time for fear of a structure collapse. SFFD Fire Chief Hayes-White stated that firefighters had to forcefully battle the fire or risk losing controlled. “If you don’t make an aggressive attack it is likely you will lose the entire block,” Chief Hayes-White said.
As for injuries on the fire ground, it was reported that one firefighter received minor burns on the back of the neck, and one resident was suffering from smoke inhalation and was treated. Both firefighter and resident were taken to the hospital for treatment. The 5-alarm building blaze left up to 60 residents homeless.
Firefighting crews fought the blaze for more than two hours, around 3:00p.m. PST the fire was declared under control. Cause of the fire is unknown at this time and an arson investigating team will be investigating a cause according to SFFD Fire Chief Hayes-White.
(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.)
