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: California Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 09.10.2017

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.) 

USFA LODD: California Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.31.2017

On August 31, 2017 while returning from an assignment on the Railroad Fire in the Sierra National Forest, Battalion Chief Gary Helming, 47, was killed when a Ford F-350 traveling in the opposite direction suffered a tire failure, crossed the middle of the road, and struck Chief Helming's vehicle head-on.

Our condolences to the Helming Family & Friends, Los Padres National Forest - Santa Lucia District, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Gary Helming’s passing.

To date, 66 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.) 

USFA LODD: Georgia Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 05.18.2017

On May 18, 2017 several hours after answering an emergency response call during his normally scheduled shift, Battalion Chief John Chester, 56, passed away while at home of a yet to be determined cause.

  
Our condolences to the Chester Family & Friends, Whitfield County Fire Department, and to all affected by Battalion Chief John Chester’s passing.  

To date, 39 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.) 

USFA LODD: California Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 04.28.2017

Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd, 55, suffered a medical emergency on the morning of Friday, April 28, 2017 while on-duty driving in a fire department vehicle near Downtown Los Angeles. Battalion Chief Boyd was transported to California Hospital Medical Center by a Los Angeles Fire Department rescue ambulance. All efforts to revive him, however, were not successful.

  
Our condolences to the Boyd Family & Friends, Los Angeles Fire Department, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd’s passing. 

To date, 34 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.) 

USFA LODD: New York City Battalion Chief On-Duty Death Notification 09.27.2016

Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy, 44, was struck and killed by debris when a 2-story private residence under investigation for an illicit drug manufacturing operation exploded. Firefighters had first responded to a report of a gas smell at the location and found the drug lab, notifying police, but the house exploded before the situation could be fully assessed and mitigated. The fatal incident remains under investigation by authorities.

  

Our condolences to the Fahy Family & Friends, Fire Department City of New York, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy’s passing.       

  

To date, 68 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2016. 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: Missouri Battalion Chief On-Duty Death Notification 01.08.2015

On January 8, 2015, several hours after responding to an emergency incident, Battalion Chief Christopher “A.” Tindal, 42, passed away from a nature and cause of injury still to be reported.

Battalion Chief Christopher “A.” Tindal was also a member of the Missouri Search and Rescue K9 Unit.

Our condolences to the Tindall Family & Friends, the South Metropolitan Fire Protection District, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Christopher “A.” Tindal’s passing.

To date, 01 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 - Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Battalion Chief Fatalities Notification 05.30.2014

Battalion Chief John "Mac" McDonald, 54, on May 30, 2014 passed away from a nature of injury still to be reported while on-duty at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. A memorial service with full fire department honors is being planned for Battalion Chief McDonald. Battalion Chief McDonald was a Navy veteran and also a life-long volunteer firefighter and former fire chief with the Stafford County Fire Department, Virginia.

  
Our condolences to the McDonald Family & Friends, the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) Naval District Washington (NDW) Fire and Emergency Services Central Battalion, and to all affected by Battalion Chief John "Mac" McDonald's passing.

  
To date, 41 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2014. 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.)