Archive for June 17th, 2014

2013 NFPA Report on Firefighter Fatalities

Spike to 97 firefighter fatalities is primarily attributed to Yarnell Hill, AZ, fire and West, TX, fertilizer fire

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported a total of 97 on-duty firefighter deaths in 2013, reflecting a sharp increase over the past few years. According to NFPA’s 2013 U.S. Firefighter Fatalities report, last year’s increase is largely attributed to the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona and the West, Texas fertilizer fire that together claimed the lives of 28 firefighters.

The annual report was officially released today at NFPA’s 2014 Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

“Overall, firefighter death rates have declined in recent years. In fact, 2012 represented the second lowest level of firefighter deaths in 35 years,” said Dr. Rita Fahy, NFPA’s manager of fire databases and systems. “What we saw in 2013 was a spike due to two major incidents, with wildfires playing a significant role in the overall firefighter death toll.”

The Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona killed 19 firefighters making it the deadliest incident for firefighters since 9/11. The fire at a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, claimed the lives of nine firefighters along with an EMT and five local residents, making it the fourth-highest loss-of-life incident for firefighters since 1977.

In 2013, the largest share of deaths occurred while firefighters were operating on the ground, with a total of 56 fatalities. This is the highest number of fire ground deaths since 1999 (excluding the deaths at the World Trade Center in 2001). Half of them occurred at 10 wildland fires.

“This was the fifth consecutive year that the total number of firefighter deaths was below 100, but the 2013 death toll was much higher than it has been in recent years,” said Fahy. “Our hope is that next year’s report reflects the general decline in firefighter deaths we’ve seen in the past few years.”

The firefighter fatality study is made possible by the cooperation and assistance of the United States Fire Service, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program of the Department of Justice, Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the United States Fire Administration, the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

 

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Chicagoland Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

This from Jim Larsen:

Good afternoon everybody,

Our available golf foursomes are over halfway sold out. If you would like to join us once again for this worthy charitable golf tournament to benefit the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty, I strongly encourage you to get registered as soon as possible. I have included our flyer for your convenience. Please remember to “like us” on Facebook J https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicagoland-Memorial-Golf-Tournament/458308140972277 Thank you for your continuing support!

charity golf outingcharity golf outing charity golf outing charity golf outing

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Essex Fire Department added to the site

The Essex Fire Department in Division 7 has been added to the site. A force of 18 volunteers runs 47 square miles out of one station in Kankakee County.

rural FD pumper/tanker

Essex Fire Department Tender 1412 is a 2001 Freightliner FL80/Darley 1500/2500/20A CAFS unit. Karl Klotz photo

rural fire department water tender

Esex Tender 1417 is on a 2003 Sterling Acterra. The tank builder is not clear. It has a 500-fpm pump with 2,000 gallons of water. Karl Klotz photo

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