2 FIREFIGHTERS DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY: SOUTH DAKOTA & INDIANA
The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
We regret to advise you that a Firefighter was killed in the Line of Duty and 2 were injured while operating at the Coal Canyon Fire on the border of Wyoming and South Dakota in the southern Black Hills, of South Dakota, 9 miles north of Edgemont. The three firefighters, all from Hot Springs, were seasonal firefighting employees of the South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression.
Firefighter Trampus Haskvitz, 23, died in the Line of Duty as a result of injuries he suffered when the Type 6 fire apparatus he was working on was burned over by the fire. 2 other Firefighters, Austin Whitney and Kevin Fees, were injured and transported by Life Flight to Rapid City Regional Hospital. Whitney is being transferred tonight to a certified burn center in Greeley, Colorado. Fees is in stable condition at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Our sincere condolences, RIP.
INDIANA FIREFIGHTER DIES FOLLOWING TRAINING-MEDICAL
It is with deep regret we notify you of the death of Firefighter/EMT Tim White of the Cedar Lake Fire Department. Firefighter/EMT White died August 5th of apparent complications of a heart attack suffered July 17th during Technical Rescue Training. In addition to being a member of the Cedar Lake Department, he was a member of Indiana District 1 Urban Search and Rescue/Technical Rescue Team. He is 50 years old and served the citizens of Cedar Lake for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, 3 daughters, and 6 grandchildren. Our sincere condolences, RIP.
UPDATE: AUTOPSY: FF DIED FROM HYPERTHERMIA
The Bureau of Land Management has advised that a final autopsy report on 23-year old Caleb Hamm of Boise, Idaho, has concluded he died of “hyperthermia” (uncontrolled overheating of the body).
FF Hamm died in the Line of Duty on July 7 while fighting a fire near Mineral Wells, Texas. He was a member of the Utah-based Bonneville Interagency Hotshot crew. The Dallas (Texas) Office of the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report concluded, “Based on the case history and autopsy findings, it is our opinion that Caleb Nathanael Hamm died as a result of hyperthermia.” The report was signed by three physicians. Hamm’s death is being reviewed by an Interagency Serious Accident Investigation Team. Reviews are a standard practice when firefighters are seriously injured or die in the line of duty. The team’s purpose is to gather factual information and make recommendations that will help prevent future injuries or illnesses to wildland firefighters. The team’s final report should be completed sometime in September.
CORRECTION: Dennis Smiths New Book: "A DECADE OF HOPE: Stories of Grief and Endurance from 9/11 Families and Friends" is available on AMAZON and related online book sellers.
HERE is a LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3nfeucc as well as HERE:
Take Care-BE CAREFUL,
BillyG
The Secret List 8-12-11 / 0630 Hours
