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JUST IN: The procession for the fallen @KCMOFireDept firefighter who died today after a training exercise just left North Kansas City Hospital. @kcpolice escorted the first responders colleagues & others out of the parking lot. More to come today on @KCTV5. pic.twitter.com/uwDEqmzr4o

— Alex Love (@AlexKCTV5) September 17, 2024

Ilana Arougheti
The Kansas City Star
(TNS)

The Kansas City firefighter and paramedic who died following a training exercise on Tuesday has been identified as Kyle Brinker, 33.

Brinker suffered a medical emergency around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday while participating in a Kansas City Fire Department training exercise. After his colleagues attempted to provide aid, Brinker was evacuated to North Kansas City hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m.

An 11-year veteran of the department, Brinker spent the majority of his KCFD career at Station 35 — one of the busiest in the city, according to Kansas City fire Chief Ross Grundyson. A firefighter paramedic, Brinker was most recently assigned to the Technical Rescue Division at Station 35.

This position placed him on the front lines at active fires, where Brinker communicated with fellow firefighters and made critical decisions while evacuating residents from burning buildings, according to the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

In a statement Tuesday, Grundyson described Brinker as someone who “operated at the highest level of skill and compassion.”

“He was a mentor and role model for many, exemplifying the qualities KCFD looks for in our uniformed personnel,” Grundyson said.

Brinker worked as a paramedic in Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania, from August 2012 to September 2013, before joining the Kansas City Fire Department.

Brinker attended Coastal Carolina University for marine science before studying fire science at Community College of Allegheny County. He later studied emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh after earning his certification as a paramedic in 2012.

In posts shared online Tuesday, one of Brinker’s co-workers described him as an excellent leader with a strong sense of humor.

“You didn’t cower under pressure,” the coworker wrote, addressing Brinker. “You set an example that many people, myself included, looked up to. You showed the highest of qualities in every facet of life. You will always be a hero of mine.”

Brinker is survived by his wife, along with his brother, who is also a KCFD firefighter, according to Grundyson.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that it will host its signature annual conference, the NVFC Training Summit, on June 20-21, 2025, in Salt Lake City, UT. The NVFC is now accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers for presentations to educate first responders about critical issues in the fire and emergency services. Submit your proposal by October 20, 2024.

The NVFC Training Summit provides an opportunity to share ideas and best practices, network, and participate in training regarding key topics in the fire and emergency services. The 2025 theme is “Prepare. Protect. Inspire.” which correlates to the three training tracks of recruitment and retention, health and safety, and leadership. Sessions will be 90 minutes in length. Examples of relevant presentation topics include but are not limited to: effective training; fireground/response; physical health; behavioral health; fire and life safety education; working intergenerationally; diversity, equity, and inclusion; mentorship; family engagement; work/life/volunteer balance; recruitment; communication; management; long-term planning; data for the fire service; and finding funding and resources.

The NVFC values the different experience and perspectives of first responders and instructors nationwide. Find out more about the call for presentations, including additional topic examples and tips for writing a successful proposal, in the Call for Presentations Guide. Questions? Join the NVFC’s training and education team at a drop-in virtual Q&A help desk. There are two opportunities to visit the help desk: Monday, September 30 from 12:00-12:30pm ET and Monday, October 14 from 3:00-3:30pm ET.

Proposals must be submitted by October 20, 2024. A peer review team will evaluate all presentation proposals. Selections will be made based on quality, relevance, focus, practical application, and the presenter’s experience and credentials. Selected presenters will be notified by November 22, 2024.

The NVFC will cover travel expenses and provide a stipend for the selected presenters. Teaching teams are welcome to apply, but only one instructor per course can receive travel reimbursement/stipend. Please note, while organizations and companies are welcome to apply to share their subject matter expertise, all courses must be educational in nature.

Find out more and submit your proposal at https://nvfc.swoogo.com/2025nvfcsummit/presentations. 

Learn more about the NVFC Training Summit at www.nvfc.org/summit. Read about the 2024 Training Summit here. View courses from our 2021 Virtual Training Summit in the NVFC Virtual Classroom. Questions? Contact Rachel Buczynski, chief of training and education, at Rachel@nvfc.org or 202-887-5700 x130.