March 2008 LODDs

[hp4l]

Here is one from the secret list. This is very unfortunate and one of the LODDs that cannot be prevented.'

A cowardly gunman dressed in a suit and tie walked into a Wendy's restaurant in Palm Beach County (Florida) at lunchtime today, killing a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Lieutenant who was on his lunch break. The lunatic then went on shooting four others before turning the gun on himself. The Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Lieutenant was taking a lunch break from training and met his wife and child at the restaurant. The 42-year-old Firefighter and his family had just left the restaurant when he returned to retrieve a toy his child had left behind. The Lieutenant was shot in the back as he stood at the counter. Our condolences to all those affected.

[hp4l]

Another one from the secret list.

PA CANCER LODD: It is with deep regret that we report the line-of-duty death of Lieutenant Jay L. Ervin of IAFF Local 655 - Bradford, Pennsylvania. Brother Ervin, 50, died on Saturday, March 1, 2008 from kidney and bone cancer.

[FirstDue312]

Since I'm not fully versed in the specifics of LODD's, how is that considered LODD?

[papacheese]

firstdue312 said:

Since I'm not fully versed in the specifics of LODD's, how is that considered LODD?

If I may, Jim....

There is increasing evidence that the by-products of combustion that we so enjoy displaying on our helmets and PPE is, in reality, highly toxic and over a period of time, the cause of many types of cancers. A study done several years ago indicated that firefighters are (as memory serves) four to five times more likely to get many different forms of cancer, including kidney, brain, and bone cancer. It is a startling statistic that the number of firefighters who responded to and worked at the Telephone Exchange fire in NYC back in the seventies and were exposed to PCB laden smoke eventually got cancer and died...again, the actual numbers need to be retrieved, but the indicators are now becoming far more clear, especially in light of the Providence, Rhode Island firefighters who suffered hydrogen cyanide poisoning at a "routine" fire.

You have to believe that all that crap we complain about in a house fire, when decomposed by heat, turns into something nasty. Unfortunately the effects are not apparent or immediate; it takes a long period of time of being continually exposed before the real effects begin to show.

Cleaning your PPE is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The more you breathe, touch, and contaminate yourself with what's on your gear, the more chance you get of ending up with bad news someday.

So...to answer your question, a 50 year old firefighter dying of cancer may be a bit a stretch, but to me, it's not.

Use SCBA and clean your gear.....it's a start

[hp4l]

Thanks papcheese. I was going to wait and see if anyone was going to question this one. I was thinking along the same lines as you. If that is the case then I guess it is a LODD. More specifics would have to come out on this one. Let's face it, there is a cancer for every part of your body. Are they all going to amount to LODDs? Probably not. But if it was caused by what we do then by all means, give the FF the honors and support his or her family.

[voyager9]

UPPER CHICHESTER -- One firefighter died battling a Delaware County house fire Wednesday, and three others were hospitalized, authorities said.

Fire officials did not immediately say what department the victims fought for. Their names were not released.

The victims either became trapped in the home's basement or were overcome by smoke, officials said.

The fire broke out on the 100 block of Moser Street in Upper Chichester Wednesday morning.

NBC Chopper 10 captured images of firefighters wheeling their injured comrades on gurneys to ambulances. Meanwhile, others fought through the smoke and used a chainsaw to cut through the roof and walls.

Story: www.nbc10.com/news/15500169/detail.html
Pictures: www.nbc10.com/slideshow/news/15500491/detail.html

[hp4l]

Another from the secret list:

We deeply regret to inform you that 21 year old Pine Township (PA) Firefighter Brad Holmes has died in the Line of Duty, passing away this morning after being burned over 75 percent of his body in a house fire last Friday that also took the life of a civilian. FF Holmes (who is also the President of the FC) is the brother of the Pine Township’s Fire Chief, Chris Holmes and the son of their Assistant Chief, Joe Holmes. FF Holmes and Firefighter Scott King were doing a search and attempted rescue into the burning duplex. Conditions in the building rapidly deteriorated and the Firefighters became trapped on the second floor....and they were rescued by a rapid intervention team. FF King has been discharged from the hospital.
Our deepest condolences to all.

[voyager9]

hp4l said:

We deeply regret to inform you that 21 year old Pine Township (PA) Firefighter Brad Holmes has died in the Line of Duty, passing away this morning after being burned over 75 percent of his body in a house fire last Friday that also took the life of a civilian.

Saw this on their web site: fire.pinetownship.org/

My Hero Bradley P. Holmes
Latest News
Wednesday, 05 March 2008

This morning my brave little brother lost his fight against his burns he sustatined last Friday trying to rescue a woman from her apartment, he was 21. Brad is and will always be my HERO. And to all the supporters out there I send you my deepest appreciation and love. Your support has helped myself and my family deal with this tragic event. I cannot tell you how much this means to myself, my family and my department, there is a lost for words. There are so many brothers and sisters out there that we never knew we had.

Brad, Rest in Peace Little Brother, I LOVE YOU FOREVER...

Your Admirer and Loving Brother. Chris....

As mentioned on FFCC, there have been FIVE LODD's this week..

[hp4l]

I just came across this form the secret list. It was a review of the recent LODDs. I must have missed this one. Incident occurred on Feb. 29 but I am unsure on when the LODD occurred.

TEXAS HEART ATTACK LODD: San Antonio Fire Engineer Roger Dennis Jr. (age 55) died after suffering a heart attack on Feb. 29...he collapsed while on duty as a paramedic at Fire Station 40. Dennis joined the department in June of 1973 and was promoted to the rank of fire engineer in October of 1984.

[voyager9]

MULTIPLE FIREFIGHTER LODD: TRAGIC MORNING IN NORTH CAROLINA
Friday, March 7, 2008

There has been at least 1 Firefighter killed in the Line of Duty and at least 2 others are seriously injured/ burned in Salisbury, North Carolina this morning. One media source is now stating that 2 Firefighters are dead. Firefighters were operating at a commercial lumber year fire when there was a collapse and related problems. The Charlotte FD has sent a full assignment, a PIO as well as a USAR response. Companies from Kannapolis, Mooresville, Concord and others are on the scene. Here are some media links: www.WCNC.com
www.WSOCTV.com
www.WXii12.com
We will update later this evening as additional information is provided. As always, our sincere condolences go out to all affected.

[hp4l]

From the secret list. This may go with the previous one posted by voyager.

NORTH CAROLINA LODD UPDATE: With several structural fire LODD's in the past few days, and most involving very young Firefighters.... yesterday 2 more Firefighters were killed in the Line of Duty....and one was a kid. Most lately have been very young, trained and dedicated but very young Firefighters.

Ray, Brad, Nick, Roger, Mathieu, Justin and Victor were all Firefighters who were killed in the Line of Duty this week.

Salisbury FF Justin Monroe was a dedicated, trained, gung ho "always wearing a FD t-shirt" 19 year old Firefighter. And it looks like firefighting was all the 19 year old kid ever really wanted to do. Lisa Monroe said her late son was just 14 when he joined the Miller's Ferry FD Junior program. From that point on, he was set on becoming a Firefighter. FF Monroe eventually got part-time jobs with the Salisbury and Spencer FD's, as well as serving as a volunteer for Miller's Ferry. He was working on his fire technology degree. And now he is one of two Firefighters who were killed in the Line of Duty at the commercial building fire yesterday.

As you know, Salisbury Firefighters Justin Monroe, 19, and Victor Isler, 40, both died from injuries while operating at the cabinetry and wood trim facility fire in Salisbury, NC. 3 other Firefighters were hurt and burned but NLT....they were involved in the attempted rescues of Monroe and Isler. FF Isler had moved to North Carolina from New York last summer to accept a position with the Salisbury FD. A former FDNY paramedic and member of the Deer Park FD (Suffolk County, Long Island) he is survived by his wife Tracy and their two kids, ages 13 and 15.

Reports are that the fire had been contained in the company's showroom and then the fire apparently spread to the production side of the building. Our sincere condolences in this tragic loss for the SFD, their members but especially the families of FF's Monroe and Isler. Here are some link to photos, video and related info:

www.wxii12.com/video/15529931/index.html

www.salisburypost.com/area/302791850943274.php

[opsoverkill]

We regret to advise you that a Firefighter from West Milford Co. 1 (New Jersey) was killed in the Line of Duty this afternoon. He was operating interior (in his PPE/SCBA) at a working dwelling/kitchen fire when he went down. He was rescued from the building by the Firefighters with him and immediate efforts were started from EMS (who was on the scene) ...he was transported but succumbed to his injury at the hospital. It appears to be medically related but the cause has not be officially been determined.
As always, our sincere condolences to all affected.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 3-9-08 / 1730 hours

[hp4l]

Also from the secret list:

NJ LODD UPDATE: Veteran West Milford (NJ) Firefighter collapsed while battling a fire today....Raymond Barrett, 62, was on the scene of a house fire when he collapsed inside the building, No one else was injured in the blaze, which appeared to start in the home's attic and was called in by a neighbor at 2:49 p.m., police said. The home's residents were not there when the fire started. Former Chief Barrett had been a volunteer firefighter for several decades.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

It is with regret that we advise you of the On-Duty Death of Fire Captain Matt Moore of the Murrieta, CA FD, who died last night. Captain Moore had been ill since contracting an amoebic brain parasite late last year, suspected to be while operating at previous wildland fires.

Captain Moore was surrounded by his family, including wife Sherry, children Alyssa, 16, Trent, 13 and Branden, 13, his parents Carol and Phil, brother Mark, also a Murrieta Fire Captain and countless friends and colleagues. Captain Moore has been hospitalized since November, 2007 with an aggressive form of meningitis caused by an amoebic parasite known as Balamuthia mandrillaris. Balamuthia mandrillaris enters the body through the lower respiratory tract or through open wounds. For the last six weeks, Captain Moore has been in the Intensive Care Unit at the University of California San Diego Medical Center.
Here is an article related: www.myvalleynews.com/story.php?story_id=28724
Here is a link to the MFD Firefighters: mfa3540.org/index.cfm?section=1
Our sincere condolences to all affected...but especially the members of the MFD and Captain Matt Moore's family and friends.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you of the passing of Pontiac (IL) Fire Lt. Tim Murphy. Lt. Murphy passed away on Monday, March 10th at his home after a battle with cancer and is being handled as a Line of Duty Death and career/job related. For more info contact: [phone]. Our sincere condolences to the loss of Lt. Murphy. For more related info go to: www.FireFighterCancerSupport.org

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we report that Kansas City, Missouri FF Terrance Crocket died in the Line of Duty while working at a structure fire this morning. Initial reports are that FF Crocket collapsed at the fire. The fire was reported about 12:30 in a single-story dwelling. It was declared under control in about 15 minutes or so but shortly afterward, Firefighters at the scene reported that a member had collapsed inside the house.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

AZ LODD: We regret to advised you that Mesa Fire Capt. John Delaney (44) died Monday after he was found in full cardiac arrest in his office in downtown Mesa. He passed away around 1430 at the hospital. When requests went out in 2002 that he needed a kidney transplant, several dozen donors stepped up, and one ended up supplying the donor kidney. Captain Delaney had been receiving dialysis treatment for 9 months and had been suffering from diabetes and hypertension for 2 years before the surgery. Our condolences to all affected in the sad loss of Captain Delaney.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

We have been advised that Deputy Chief Donald Lee Grubor (42 years old) of the Lewistown Fire Protection District (IL) tragically died in the Line of Duty early Saturday morning. It is reported that he had returned from a mutual aid structure fire and then returned home when he was stricken. An exact cause of death has not been determined pending results of an autopsy.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you that a Los Angles City Firefighter was killed in the Line of Duty late this afternoon and at least 1 other Firefighter is in very critical condition following an explosion. The explosion occurred at the Water and Power Credit Union building, involving an underground electrical utilities vault. Initial reports are that the companies responded/arrived, possibly with manholes blowing up, and upon arrival and operating at the scene while determining the problem, additional explosions occurred leading to the tragic results.

LAFD LODD UPDATE: Yesterdays blast tragically killed Los Angles City Firefighter Brent A. Lovrien, age 35, in the Line of Duty. FF Lovrien was a 10 year member of the LA City FD assigned to Fire Station 95. Details are that yesterday, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 1357 hours LA City FD responded for smoke in the area, not far from Los Angeles International Airport. At approximately 1420 hours, an explosion occurred at a nearby building. In addition to FF Lovrien, LAFD Engineer Anthony J. Guzman, a 48-year-old 18 year veteran of the LAFD, also assigned to Fire Station 95, suffered multiple fractures and facial trauma-he is in serious but stable condition following surgery.

The investigation into the incident is looking into the possibility of a started/running fire department power saw as the ignition cause of the blast. Civilians in the area reported smelling gas before the explosion and say they claim they saw Firefighters take a power saw out and start it up.... "As soon he turned it on and put it by the door, that was when the explosion occurred," a witness told the media. However, investigators are considering around numerous theories from the saw to electrical problems to methane gas as potential causes.

For UPDATES on this incident, the tragic loss of FF Lovrien, memorial and donation information, go to: lafd.blogspot.com/ As always, our sincere condolences go out to all affected, the members of the LA City FD but especially the family of FF Lovrien,

[hp4l]

And another from the secret list:

We regret to advise you that a fire tanker overturned while responding to a mobile home fire just north of Shreveport this morning, killing the apparatus driver. Firefighter Eric Speed, 33 was killed in the Line of Duty. The crash happened in a 90-degree curve of a roadway. Cops said Speed, a member of Caddo Fire District 2, was responding to assist a neighboring department with a mobile home fire when the crash happened shortly before 1000 Hours. The 3,000-gallon tanker struck a tree and came to rest on its side. Our sincere condolences to all affected, especially the family of FF Speed. Details will be posted later.