Mass-Casualty Incidents
As the military saying goes, “Prior planning prevents poor performance.” This phrase can be applied to preparing for mass-casualty incidents (MCIs). The FireRescue1 MCI resource page details best practices for significant incidents, including active shooter and terrorist events, transportation incidents like bus crashes or train derailments, and other incidents that could involve many victims.
Firefighters from Marine 4 pulled victims from the water near Hart Island while Marine 6 knocked down the blaze
Forty-eight active shooter incidents were reported in 2023; in 2024, the FBI identified 24 incidents
At least eight people were injured after a man attacked a pro-Israeli hostage rally in Boulder, the FBI is investigating as a terrorist act
Downey represented the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the incident to coordinate the state USAR response
Crews and team members from within the state, plus Calif. and Texas have been dispatched
Rescuers have had to crawl over the dead to get to the living, said Jeremy Creason, Mayfield’s fire chief and emergency services director
Community support and agency coordination will be essential to assist search, rescue and recovery missions across the Midwest
Battalion Chief Jordan Saas said 8 of those sent are collapse specialists, and 2 will be on the incident management team
National Guard members and emergency workers from across the state were pouring into Mayfield to help with a search and rescue operation
Dozens of emergency vehicles also responded to a roof collapse at the Amazon center near Edwardsville, Ill.
Victims were transported to the hospital, and Waukesha police are investigating
“This is something I’ll have nightmares about for the rest of my life,” said Alex Pollak, who worked at the concert
13 people remain hospitalized; Astroworld organizer and rapper Travis Scott thanked police and fire departments for their response and support
Calls involving celebrities, chemical restraint, protests and mass shootings are just some of the scenarios that will put you in the public eye
The KNP Complex and Windy fires have damaged or killed dozens of giant sequoia trees
Eyewitness accounts described fireballs, mass drownings, an atmosphere marked more by flame than sky and a veritable hurricane of fire
A gunman attacked a Collierville Kroger, killing one person and injuring a dozen more; he was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas leads a panel discussion about this defining moment for the department
The chief officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics who responded to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol describe responding to the ill and injured
We must not only “never forget” those who died, but also never forget to stay safe, plan for the worst and to make swift decisions despite challenging parameters
As the newly installed IAFC president, I suddenly faced a new fire service focus on terrorism and preparedness
Chief Bashoor considers what the fire service has learned since 9/11 and what more we can do to honor our fallen brothers
All 57 bus passengers, coming from Poughkeepsie to visit Niagara Falls, were injured in the rollover
Surfside condo collapse search concludes after a month of work with 97 individuals confirmed dead
“We kept hoping that we would find somebody somewhere, but it didn’t work out that way,” Pittsburgh Bureau Fire Captain said of Surfside aid mission
Ohio Task Force 1 rescue team members described the Surfside condo collapse scene as being “like a combat zone in a war movie” as they worked to find victims
The crew was given a key to the county and made honorary commanders of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department
Families, search teams mourn together during vigil
Touring the condo collapse site offers a glimpse into the monumental rescue and recovery efforts underway
The 7-year-old was found late Thursday as crews searched through debris
Officials said planning for demolition of the remaining Surfside structure is underway; 145 people are still missing and 18 are confirmed dead
Crews on the scene noticed widening cracks and up to a foot of movement in a large column, forcing teams to stop their search for victims
Rescue workers continue scouring the mountain of debris with trained dogs and sonar, searching for any survivors
