April 2008 LODDs

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From the secret list. Sorry for the delay with this.

It is with extreme deep regret that we advise you that the PIO of Colerain Township, Ohio (Hamilton County, greater Cincinnati area) has advised that 2 Firefighters have been lost in the Line of Duty this morning. Companies were and still are operating at a working dwelling fire. Initial reports are that there may have been a collapse or related structural failure.

UPDATE: A veteran Colerain Township (Hamilton County, Ohio) Fire Captain and newly hired Firefighter were killed in the Line of Duty this morning when they reportedly fell through the first floor of a working house fire in Colerain Township. Killed were Capt. Robin Broxterman, 37, a 17-year veteran of the department and the township's first female Captain. She was the mother of two children. The other Firefighter was identified as Firefighter Brian Schira, 29, hired in Nov. 2007 and also a member of the nearby the Delhi Township fire Department.
Tragically, their bodies were found in the basement of the 2 story, four-bedroom house. The alarm came in shortly after 0600 at 5708 Squirrels Nest Lane. The emergency "Mayday" was transmitted at 0645 hours. It was initially dispatched as an automatic fire alarm and then upgraded to a structural fire, with initial reports of fire in the basement. No other injuries were reported. Two occupants of the house made it out before firefighters arrived. The four-bedroom home was built in 1991 and we have posted pictures on our home page at FireFighterCloseCalls.com.
Numerous resources are in Colerain and assisting including the NFFF/Ohio Chiefs LAST/LODD Response Team, the IAFF State Reps, SW Ohio CISM, the Ohio State Fire Marshal, the Hamilton County Fire Chiefs and much more. Additional details will follow. Our sincere condolences to all affected, especially the members of the Colerain Township and Delhi Township Fire Departments but especially the families of Captain Broxterman and FF Schira.

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From the secret list:

The Deputy Chief of the Lawrence Park Township VFD (Erie County, PA) Mike Crotty, was tragically killed in the Line of Duty early this evening at a working industrial building fire. Companies were on the mutual aid run, for the working factory fire to the Harbor Creek VFD, when for a yet undetermined reason, the Lawrence Park aerial ladder had a catastrophic failure when a portion of the waterway and master stream separated from the main ladder, falling, striking the Deputy Chief, who was operating in a command role. Initial reports are that the device had a pinnable waterway and it was flowing water at the time of the failure.
We have also been advised that Chief Crotty was recently hired as a Career Firefighter for the nearby City of Erie, F.D.
Details will follow. Our sincere condolences to the members of the LPFVD, the HCVFD, the City of Erie FD but especially the family and friends of Deputy Chief Mike Crotty.

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From the secret list:

We regret to advise you that the Fire Chief of Macon (MS) died yesterday from what appears to be a medical emergency (Saturday) while operating at a working structure fire. Chief Charlie Fraley, who has been the Macon Fire Chief for over 25 years complained of shortness of breath around six in the morning. The incident occurred shortly after he responded to the fire call. He was transported from the scene where he sadly passed away. According to the Macon FD Assistant Chief, the 65 year old Chief Fraley had been going through some medical trouble. We will post additional information as it becomes available. As always, our sincere condolences to all affected but especially the family of Chief Fraley.

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From the secret list:

We regret to advise you that a plane involved in fighting a large wildfire near Fort Carson (CO) crashed last night (Tuesday evening), killing the firefighting plane pilot. The single engine air tanker crashed at about 1815 hours just east of Fort Carson. The name of the pilot and the circumstances surrounding his death have not been released. Visibility was low in the area because of the heavy smoke as Firefighters are battling a 2,000-acre fire in the area. The Fort Carson fire was one of three major fires Tuesday afternoon in Colorado, which saw a wetter than normal winter that was followed by a dry March. A storm moving into the state was expected to bring rain and snow.

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From the secret list:

One of 3 Firefighters killed in the Line of Duty yesterday (Tuesday) operating at the Colorado wildland fires has been identified as Olney Springs Fire Chief Terry Devore. Chief Devore and Olney Springs Firefighter John Schwartz were in their apparatus crossing a fire-damaged bridge when the structure collapsed (or had collapsed prior) killing both of them in the Line of Duty. The 3rd Firefighter was the pilot of the air tanker that crashed last evening that we previously sent out on The Secret List. Chief DeVore was the Father of four children, ages 10 to 4. FF Schwartz was the father of four children as well, ages 4 to 16. Reports are that the smoke was so bad on the highway they couldn't see clearly and the bridge had collapsed ahead of them...but were unaware of the collapse. We will provide updates as they become available. Our deepest condolences go out to all affected, but especially the families of Chief Devore and FF Schwartz.

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From the secret list:

We sincerely regret to advise you that Sedalia (MO) Firefighter Rick Morris who was in critical condition, fighting heroically for his life, has now succumbed to his injuries following being burned while operating at a dwelling fire at a Sedalia dwelling.
Morris, a Firefighter of 33 years, was burned during a flashover while operating at that house fire on April 8. FF Morris suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 50 percent of his body. FF Morris, along with three other Firefighters, were searching for the source of the fire when he became separated from the crew. Firefighters opened a door to the front room of the house and fire rolled out the door and over their heads. They knocked down the fire in the room, when one of the Firefighters heard FF Morris's PASS alarm and found him face downward on the floor, they pulled him onto the front porch and removed his gear where he was treated and transported.
Additional details will follow. As always, our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the SFD but especially the family of FF Rick Morris.
Here is the Sedalia FD webpage: www.cityofsedalia.com/content/198/236/default.aspx

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From the secret list:

LA. FF STRUCK AND KILLED: It is with deep regret we advise you that a Springfield (Louisiana) Livingston Parish FPD# 2 FF was killed in the Line of Duty in a secondary crash on I-55. While operating at the initial crash scene on Monday, FF Riley Joseph Terrebone Jr (29) was operating at the scene when another vehicle struck him and his nephew, also reported to be a Firefighter. The nephew has critical but NLT injuries. FF Terrebones family has decided to respect his wishes and donate his organs. We will post additional details on FireighterCloseCalls.com related to services and the crash as soon as they are made available.

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From the secret list:

CHARLESTON S.C. LODD-CANCER RELATED: It is with deep regret that we advise you that Charleston Fire Captain Ronnie Campbell gave his life in the Line of Duty on Sunday April 20th, 2008. He fought a long tough battle with esophageal cancer and this is being treated by IAFF Local 61 as an LODD. Captain Campbell died at age 49, served 30 years in the Charleston FD and a member of Local 61 since 1996. He was diagnosed with the cancer 2 months after the tragic Sofa Super Store fire and began treatment at Cancer Treatment Center of America in Philadelphia, PA. Early on in his treatment there seemed to be hope for his recovery. But toward the end, the cancer and complications very sadly ended his life.

Captain Campbell was retired just one month before his passing and due to local insurance and coverage issues, has left significant medical bills. Help from Firefighters is very much needed. Please go to local61.com/captrcampbell.htm for additional information on assisting. Our sincere condolences to all affected, but especially the members of the CFD and the family of Captain Campbell.

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From the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you that Pine City (MN) Firefighter Jeremy Jylka, 34, died in the Line of Duty yesterday afternoon while responding to a wildland fire. FF Jylka collapsed while riding in the fire apparatus on the way to the fire near Pine City. FF Jylka stopped breathing and another Firefighter started to perform CPR on him immediately. FF Jylka, 34, tragically, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Firefighter Jylka joined the fire department in 2007 and is survived by his wife, Kelly and their 4-year-old daughter, Anica. Additional details will be posted. As always, our sincere condolences to all affected, the PCFD but especially his family.