USFA LODD: New Jersey Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 04.28.2017

On April 10, 2017 as he was advancing hose line during mandatory live burn training, Firefighter William Gerace, 54, suffered a spiral fracture to his right fibula. On April 28, 2017 Firefighter Gerace's spouse contacted 911 from Gerace's residence as he was showing signs of severe respiratory difficulty. Upon the arrival of emergency responders, Firefighter Gerace stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. He was immediately transported to a local hospital with EMS performing CPR. CPR was continued at the hospital and, after approximately 20 minutes, doctors pronounced him deceased. Autopsy results showed that he suffered a pulmonary embolism, which was directly attributed to being a complication of his initial leg fracture and recovery process.

  
Our condolences to the Gerace Family & Friends, Gibbsboro Fire Company No. 1 Inc., and to all affected by Firefighter William Gerace’s passing. 

To date, 35 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: Arkansas Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 04.30.2017

On April 30, 2017 at 0400hrs, while outside of his vehicle checking water conditions during severe storms that were occurring throughout north-central Arkansas, Fire Chief Doug Deckard, 51, was struck by another vehicle on Highway 25 just west of the Faulkner-Cleburne County line near Quitman. Fire Chief Deckard passed away a short time later from the injuries sustained when struck.

  
Our condolences to the Deckard Family & Friends, Cove Creek Pearson Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Chief Doug Deckard’s passing. 

To date, 33 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: Ohio Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 04.28.2017

On April 27, 2017 at 2100hrs, Firefighter David Lemponen, 83, was directing traffic on the north side of State Route 307 at the scene of a minor motor vehicle accident when he was struck by another vehicle. Firefighter Lemponen was treated and transported by Medevac to a Cleveland hospital but succumbed to the injuries sustained when struck on April 28, 2017.

  
Our condolences to the Lemponen Family & Friends, Austinburg Volunteer Fire Department, and to all affected by Firefighter David Lemponen’s passing. 

To date, 32 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.)