| Editor’s note: Are you on Twitter? Sign up to follow FR1’s live tweets throughout FDIC. We’ll be keeping you updated on all the news, sights and sounds from the show. |
By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Editor
 Photo Jamie Thompson Chief Goldfeder speaks at FDIC. |
| Related Resources: FDIC full coverage page Fire chief killed, 4 firefighters hurt in Okla. grain elevator blaze TKT: Risk versus Close-Call |
INDIANAPOLIS — Recent LODDs and close calls came under Billy Goldfeder’s microscope at FDIC Thursday — and he urged the fire service to reduce the number of unnecessary LODDs.
While some line-of-duty deaths are unavoidable, Chief Goldfeder said, there are many each year that simply do not need to happen.
“Sometimes firefighters must go in harm’s way and lose their lives doing it,” said Chief Goldfeder, of FirefigherCloseCalls.com. “Sometimes this has to happen, but in many cases it does not.”
During the session, Chief Goldfeder looked at a string of LODDs and close call incidents from the past few months. He stressed while he did not want to minimize the sacrifices made by fallen brothers, he said it is important to learn from such incidents.
Hydro, Okla., Chief Nolan Schmidt — a father of two and a local mechanic — was killed in March fighting a blaze inside a downtown grain bin, while his two firefighting brothers were pulled from the flames and taken to hospitals.
“It’s grain,” Chief Goldfeder said. “I understand that means income to people. I understand that we have a responsibility to do our best to save people’s property and the value of grain.
“But to die for grain and lose your life? Not to minimize this good, brave fire chief trying to do his best, but to die for grain? That’s what his family is left with.”
Chief Goldfeder also discussed the close call captured on a photo slideshow of a firefighter making a headfirst exit from a mobile home fire in Lake City, Fla., Thursday.
Summing up dangers present in mobile home fires, Chief Goldfeder said, “A mobile home is a large Coke can filled with combustibles.”
With 50 percent of LODDs each year coming from heart attacks and strokes, Chief Goldfeder offered his perspective on cutting down the figure.
“In most cases, what’s the solution? Salad — have a salad,” he said.
“If you’re 400 pounds and 5ft 8, you probably are going to die in the line of duty on the fireground.
“A little bit of exercise, cut back those carbs, drink more water, walk a little more — it isn’t tough.”