April 2009 LODDs

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llinois FF LODD-Following Training (The Secret List) www.FirefighterCloseCalls.com


It is with deep regret we advise you of the Line of Duty Death of Assistant Chief John Jeffers of the Wellington-Greer, IL FPD. A/C Jeffers was conducting hose training the evening of Wednesday April 1, 2009. After reloading hose on the engine, A/C Jeffers sat on the tail board of the engine and stated he wasn't feeling well and asked to be taken home. A friend stopped by the next afternoon to see him and there was no response at the door. The Fire Department was called and when they gained access to the house and found A/C Jeffers DOA on the floor. No additional details are available at this time.

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Two from the Secret List:

WI FF DIES IN STATION DURING A RUN
It is with deep regret to report the Line of Duty Death of Firefighter John Weber of Township Fire Department in Eau Claire, WI. On Saturday, April 4, 2009, The Township FD was dispatched to a report of a brush fire. Fire Fighter John Weber responded to the station to ready the trucks for the fire fighters as he had done so many times before...sometime after the trucks had left the station John passed away and he was found in the apparatus bay when the trucks and personnel returned to the station, approximately an hour and a half after the initial call. All indications are that John passed away from natural causes. John was 77 years old. If anyone has any questions, please contact Township Fire Department at 715-834-6868. Our sincere condolences in his passing.



MS FF DIES IN CRASH RETURNING FROM DUTY RELATED MEETING

Firefighter Robert France, of the Stateline VFD attended a fire training meeting at the Green County Emergency Services Office. Upon completion of the meeting he was returning to his home jurisdiction on his motorcycle when he struck a deer. FF France was treated on scene by emergency services personnel and subsequently transported via helicopter to the USA Medical Center in Mobile, AL where he succumbed to his Line of Duty related injuries.

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2 FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY-HOUSTON, TEXAS

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

We deeply regret to advise you that 2 Houston Firefighters have died in the LINE OF DUTY at a dwelling fire in Houston late early this morning. Very early reports indicate that a 53 year old Captain and a rookie Firefighter lost their lives. The fire occurred in southeast Houston around midnight at a dwelling fire. HFD Captain Tommy Dowdy did confirm both Line of Duty deaths. Additional and very preliminary info indicates that Firefighters were inside the house doing a search (there was a victim who was rescued) and attacking the fire. But at some point, the fire conditions became very heavy and all of the firefighters were ordered to get out of the house. Upon accountability, it was realized that 2 Firefighters were unaccounted for and still inside the structure. The fire conditions at this point were very heavy....as soon as Firefighters were able to get back in, they found the two missing Firefighters. At least one person was inside the home when the fire started and that person was rescued by Firefighters. More details to follow. Our most sincere condolences to the HFD and all the members and families of the fallen Firefighters.

UPDATE: HOUSTON DOUBLE LINE OF DUTY DEATH

A CAPTAIN & A PROBIE LOSE THEIR LIVES IN A WORKING HOUSE FIRE
The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

The fallen Houston Firefighters who died in the Line of Duty this morning have been identified as Capt. James Harlow, 50, and Damien Hobbs, 29. Captain Harlow has been on the job since 1979. Hobbs was a probationary firefighter who graduated from the HFD Academy in March. HFD responded on this 1st alarm, a 4000 square foot house fire just after midnight and initiated an interior operation,...the homeowners, an elderly couple, had made it out of the house safety. Reports are that it looked like they were getting a good knock on the fire when fire conditions changed drastically. The 2 Firefighters were found in the house around 0130 and while life saving measures were initiated, they could not be saved.

Additional details to follow.

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MARYLAND FIRE CHIEF KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE RESPONDING ON A RUN

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

We regret to advise you that it has been reported that Chief Charles Clough Jr. the Fire Chief of the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 6 in Queen Annes County (Maryland) was tragically killed in the Line of Duty earlier this evening while responding on a fire call. The crash reportedly occurred approximately 8 miles northeast of Church Hill on Route 300 around 2000 Hours. We will have more details in the morning. Our sincere condolences to all affected, especially the members of SVFD and the family of Chief Clough.

Here is the company website: www.svfc6.com/

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.

BillyG

The Secret List 4-15-09 2120 hours

www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

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From the Secret List:

A New Haven Firefighter who suffered a brain injury in a firehouse fall has died in the Line of Duty. Firefighter Patrick Reardon, a 14-year veteran of the department, had been in critical condition at the Hospital of Saint Raphael since April 11, when he fell at the Dixwell fire station and hit his head. He died Tuesday afternoon. Our sincere condolences to all affected by the tragic loss of FF Reardon.

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From the Secret List:

It is with deep regret we report the Line of Duty Death of Stafford County Fire Department, KS FF Dennis Simmons, 63, of Radium, KS died Tuesday afternoon when he suffered a heart attack, while returning to the fire station following a grass fire. Stafford County firefighters, first responders & EMS personnel all responded to the scene and were assisted by Great Bend Fire Department Ambulance. He was then transported to Central Kansas Medical Center where he later died. FF. Simmons served Stafford County as a volunteer firefighter for 7 years. He leaves behind a wife and 3 children. Our sincere condolences to all affected by this loss.

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THREE FIREFIGHTING CREW MEMBERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY-AIRCRAFT CRASH
The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

A Firefighting plane bound for southern New Mexico crashed in Utah, killing the pilot and two crew members.
The twin-engine plane failed to clear Stockton Pass in the Oquirrh (O-kur) mountains on Saturday and slammed into a mountain. The pilot was Tom Risk, 66, of Littleton, Colo., and crew members as Mike Flynn, 59, of Alamogordo, N. M., and Brian Buss, 32, of Alberton, Mont.
Government officials say the crew of Neptune Aviation of Missoula, Mont., was bound for southern New Mexico to help fight a 19,000-acre wildfire there. The wreckage of the plane, a twin-propeller P2V Neptune with a 100-foot wing span, was located about 1300 Saturday. Search and rescue crews on foot and all-terrain vehicles retrieved the bodies and turned them over to the state medical examiner.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. As always our sincere condolences to all affected.