Line-of-Duty Death (LODD)
The FireRescue1 line-of-duty death page provides ongoing coverage and resources related to firefighter deaths that occur while on duty. The page compiles breaking news, incident updates and memorial coverage honoring firefighters who died during emergency response, training or other job-related duties, while helping the fire service stay informed and reflect on lessons that may help prevent future tragedies.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation supports the families of firefighters who die in the line of duty through resources, programs and remembrance efforts that honor fallen fire heroes and help their loved ones rebuild their lives. Learn more about how to support firefighter families through the NFFF.
Fort Myers Fire Department officials plan to make Nathaniel Lee Wilcox an honorary firefighter
Officials said the plane was scooping water from the Hauser Reservoir while fighting the Horse Gulch Fire northeast of Helena
Chittenden Captain Charlie Parker was found unresponsive inside the fire station
The 40-year-old career acting-captain died on duty at one of the volunteer departments where he served
Chief James D. “JD” Robinson appeared to have suffered a heart attack while on standby at a car race
One doctor called the survival of the 19-year-old firefighter found after 32 hours ‘miraculous;' An unknown number of firefighters are still missing
Among the communication failures outlined in the report was a revelation that the command officer didn’t hear the first two mayday calls made during the fire
State investigators cited the department for four violations; department officials say the report blames the firefighter
The families of 14 contract pilots who died in the line of duty charge that Cal Fire has ‘engaged in a pattern of deceit’ in withholding death benefits since 2002
Michael Hallenbeck, 21, was struck by a tree Saturday near Lake Tahoe during an initial fire attack
Kevin Bell died when his SCBA ran out of air; a preliminary NIOSH report showed that one of his alarm bells was not working
A procession featuring fire vehicles from various fire agencies escorted his body from Mount Shasta to the Redding Municipal Airport, where his family received his body in a private ceremony
Forest Service Capt. David Ruhl, 38, was fighting fires in northern California when he vanished Thursday; his body was recovered Friday
Firefighter Tyron Weston, 51, fell ill on July 3 and was on his way to recovery when he died Sunday morning
Capt. Alan Hicks, who had helped fight a house fire the night before, died at the station before his shift ended
Hinal Patel, 22, was also a member of a volunteer fire company; she was planning on attending medical school in the fall
Deputy Fire Chief Jim Martin’s cancer was occupationally related and is being considered a line-of-duty death
Nicholas Hemingway, 23, was honored during funeral services Thursday; he went into cardiac arrest at the firehouse at the end of his shift
Christopher Douglas was struck by a motorist responding to a crash on a highway on July 5, 2013
Factors that contributed to their deaths included heavy winds, personnel accountability and communication problems
Nicholas Hemingway, 23, reported feeling sick earlier in the day; he previously served with several volunteer fire companies
Melissa “Missy” Doll, 41, died after responding to a structure fire
John Whelan, a 15-year veteran, sustained a broken arm, broken ribs and internal injuries after falling 25 feet onto concrete from a skylight
Friends of Ash Bronzburg, 29, announced her death on Facebook after her 7-year-old son died in May
Investigators said fire personnel took “a haphazard approach” to ventilating the house where Lt. James Bethea died of smoke inhalation
Seven years after Tim Sanborn died of a heart attack while fighting a fire, his widow was given a lasting memorial
Firefighters found Lt. Michael Miller, 45, unresponsive at the station at about 4 a.m.
The judge weighs making public a fire department report on the deadly fire before the trial starts
Here’s a roundup of past and present news coverage paying tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives
Chief Don Johnson said there was no indication that firefighter Steve Ackerman was too intoxicated to do his job
Ian Haxton, 31, suffered a medical emergency and collapsed 200 yards from the finish line
Fire officials said they rely on common sense expectations and that there’s an unwritten policy of not responding if you’ve been drinking
James Donnie Keith responded to a mobile home fire and went into cardiac arrest later at his home
