On February 22, 2017, a 68-year-old volunteer fire fighter died in a tanker rollover while responding to a working structure fire. At 0617 hours, the local volunteer fire department was dispatched for the report of a possible structure fire. 

Read the Report:
Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies in Tanker Rollover Responding to Structure Fire

Two additional volunteer fire departments were dispatched for automatic mutual aid. The volunteer fire fighter responded to a text message from his fire chief at 0646 hours requesting him to bring Tanker 1 to the scene of the structure fire. It is unknown when the fire fighter left the station with Tanker 1. Visibility was limited due to extreme fog conditions, and the National Weather Service had issued a fog warning for the local area. 

While traveling south on a two-lane, paved county road, Tanker 1 ran off the right side of the road through a narrow soft shoulder into a ditch. The fire fighter steered Tanker 1 back onto the pavement. While attempting to maintain the direction of travel, Tanker 1 overturned to the left, rolled over one and one-half times, and came to rest upside down on the pavement. The fire fighter was ejected from the cab and killed instantly when the vehicle rolled onto him. 

At 0713 hours, a civilian motorist came upon the overturned tanker and called 911. The fire fighter was not wearing a seat belt.

Contributing Factors:

• Low visibility caused by extreme fog conditions
• Seat belt not used
• Minimal shoulder on roadway at scene of crash

Key Recommendations:

• States and authorities having jurisdiction should ensure that all fire apparatus drivers complete a comprehensive driver training program that meets the requirements of NFPA 1451 Standard for a Fire and Emergency Services Vehicle Operations Training Program and NFPA 1002 Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, before allowing a member to operate a fire department apparatus.
• Fire departments should ensure that standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding seatbelt use are enforced.
• Fire departments should ensure that department drivers/operators are trained in the unique characteristics of driving a tanker and maintaining control.

Additionally, governing municipalities (federal, state, regional, and local) should:

• Consider setting mandatory training requirements for volunteer fire fighters.

MESA, AZ (ABC15) - One firefighter and three others are being taken to the hospital in stable condition after a fire truck was involved in a crash in east Mesa.

The incident happened around 12:45 p.m. Sunday near University Drive and the Loop 202.

Rural Metro Fire says the unit was responding to a drowning call nearby when they were involved in the crash.

A good portion of the office building at the Phillips 66 Soccer Park north of Bellingham will likely have to be torn down and rebuilt after an early-morning fire Monday. At 6:06 a.m., Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 crews were called to a structure fire at 5238 Northwest Drive, and arrived to find the south end of the office building “pretty well involved in fire,” chief Larry Hoffman said.
- PUB DATE: 9/24/2018 9:11:06 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

DENVER (FOX31) - The back end of a Denver Fire Department truck got stuck in a sinkhole early Sunday morning.

It happened just after 6 a.m. at South Zuni Street and West Louisiana Avenue when a fire crew was headed to a reported water main break.

"We had several crews members out walking the street. While the engineer was driving the rig, he got into this area, felt like he hit a speed bump, stopped to see what was going on and that’s when the back end sunk," shift commander Bob Kmak said.

EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND – During the 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, October 7, 2018, the U.S. Fire Service will pay tribute to the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died in previous years.   

The names of the firefighters will be read, and their loved ones will receive an American flag that had been flown above the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Dome. They will also be presented with a red rose and a special personalized badge. During the ceremony, a bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen will be officially added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  

The service begins at 10:00 a.m. (ET) at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and is open to the public. These firefighters also will be remembered in a special Candlelight Service at the same location on Saturday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m. (ET). 

“Memorials are created so there will always be a special place to remember and honor our loved ones.  In 1981, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was created to pay tribute to these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Board of Directors. “Everyone who visits the memorial pauses to not only honor the fallen firefighters, but to also honor the strength and courage of their loved ones.”   

Members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus will present 103 American flags that were flown over the U.S. Capitol to the NFFF during a brief ceremony on Thursday, October 4th at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building. The flags will be displayed in the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel until the memorial service on Sunday when they will be presented to the families. 

More than 5,000 people, including families, friends, firefighters, members of Congress, and Administration officials are expected to attend on Sunday. Firefighter Honor Guards and Pipe & Drum units from across the U.S. will participate in this national remembrance.  

NFFF provides live satellite feed and streaming of ceremonies along with video of events for downloading courtesy of VISTA Worldlink. For a complete list of fallen firefighters being honored, and a widget to display their information on your website, go to http://live.firehero.org. There, you will also find Memorial Weekend streaming information, videos, photos, and satellite coordinates. 

For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, go to www.firehero.org.