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.
89 firefighters died on duty — an 8% decline over 2022 but the second-highest number since 2013
Andrew Pontious, a 19-year veteran firefighter, was killed when part of a burning front-loader exploded
Initial report is the firefighter was killed in the explosion of a heavy-duty truck in the Antelope Valley area
Fire chief: “When you work on a friend it’s very difficult, you don’t ever expect to do that. You work a little harder.”
Curtis Nordsick, 71, collapsed after complaining that he wasn’t feeling well; he was a 48-year fire service veteran
Fire officials said one of the biggest problems is that Chiefs Carlos Huertas and Daniel Nolan do not communicate
Numerous attempts were made to revive 42-year-old Firefighter Andrew Zalme
Sarah Wessmann is one of 46 people running on the Last Call Foundation team, which has already raised more than a quarter of a million dollars
Firefighters from across the country are expected to honor 14-year veteran firefighter Steven Ackerman
Officials said the investigation might turn up issues unrelated to Daryl Gordon’s death that need to be changed
Jenny Wilson: “The fire department has not done one thing in a matter of integrity or to honor Stan or even to prevent another firefighter’s death.”
Fire chief: “He was a good person, good firefighter and a hardworking young man.”
Valley Springs Firefighter Steven Ackerman was found in the basement after being unaccounted for following an evacuation order
The judge said the 15-year-old girl was careless, not criminal, with smoking materials that set off a 2013 shop fire
The city could face fines of $1,000 per violation if it does not propose a plan to fix the violations cited by OSHA investigators
The organization will pay off home mortgage for the family of Joseph Sanford Jr., who died Dec. 23 when a home’s floor collapsed
A complaint alleges that the fire chief violated NFPA guidelines related to live fire training
The task force discussed issues related to providing live fire training at the training academy
Deputy Chief Rich Davison, the author of the report, said redactions were asked because some statements could hurt the city
Firefighter Daryl Gordon, 54, died after falling down an elevator shaft; he leaves behind a wife and two daughters
Firefighter Barry Van Horn, 68, fell ill after returning from a call; he succumbed to his injuries three days later
Residents of the building said the elevator was unreliable and many feared using it
Edward Roddy, 48, died Feb. 22 after collapsing at a fire; the program will look at ways to reduce firefighters’ heart attack risks
Memorial plaques were unveiled at the firehouse where both men will always have a permanent place
Fire Chief Richard Braun says department policies and procedures will be reviewed to try to learn from the death
Firefighter Daryl Gordon, 54, is the first Cincinnati firefighter to die in the line of duty since 2003
The court found that prosecutors withheld evidence that they offered reward money for witness testimony
Kevin Bell received 1,899 hours of training, but the report showed that 1,754 hours were in one day; officials deemed it a data issue
They want reimbursement of more than $158,000 in damages the agency sustained to its vehicles in a 2013 crash that killed a firefighter
Fire officials said the department will reopen its investigation into the fire’s cause if any new information becomes available
John Shoup was taken to the hospital and treated for a heart attack; he later succumbed to his injury
Firefighters from around the area flooded in to bury the 18-year-old firefighter who died last week
The NIOSH investigation showed that only the first of the two low-air alarms functioned in its test