All,
A Pennsylvania volunteer Firefighter is facing charges after a deadly crash in Monroeville (near Pittsburgh) last year. Leroy Hart, 88, died days after an October 2025 crash at an intersection.
Witnesses say responding volunteer Firefighter Broderick Balanti was heading north on Haymaker Road while Hart was heading south. Reports are that Hart attempted to turn onto McGinley Road when he was hit by Balanti’s personally owned vehicle.
Witnesses also said they saw Balanti’s vehicle traveling “very fast” prior to the collision. It was later determined Balanti was traveling at 71 mph one second before the crash. According to the criminal complaint, Balanti did not engage his brakes until that moment. The road has a posted speed limit of 35 mph.
Balanti, a volunteer Firefighter for Monroeville Fire Company #4, was responding to a call in his personal vehicle at the time of the crash. The fire call was dispatched at 1821 hours and the crash occurred at 1826 hours. It was also noted that Monroeville Volunteer Firefighters are not equipped with ‘blue lights’ on their personal vehicles. He is now facing charges of homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving.
=CHIEF DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-YEARS AFTER NEAR DROWNING
An Eagle Rock (Virginia) assistant fire chief has died of injuries suffered during a swift water rescue a decade ago. Assistant Chief Alan “Bubba” Wright was swept away by fast-moving water while assisting with rescue efforts after the area suffered extreme flooding in 2016.
It’s unclear how long Chief Wright was under, but he was in cardiac arrest. Fellow firefighters initiated CPR, and resuscitated him where he was saved but the impact of the incident never fully healed. He died this past weekend. Our condolences to all those affected Rest In Peace.
=ANOTHER FIRE APPARATUS FIRE IN THE FIRE HOUSE-OHIO
Around 2230 hours last night, a Firefighter driving by their own firehouse noticed smoke in the vicinity and alerted Adams County Dispatch. Winchester Firefighters responded from home within minutes and found heavy smoke coming from the building. Conditions made it extremely difficult to assess the situation or enter the station. Their rescue pumper was on fire, threatening to spread to the building. Members were able to remove a brush unit and protect the structure until mutual aid crews arrived to help finish extinguishing the fire.
MORE & PHOTOS:
https://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/apparatus-fire-while-in-station-ohio/
RELATED FIRE STATION FIRE PREVENTION THOUGHTS:
=CONSIDER moving “the newest” heavy duty charging devices into compartments (hi-powered tools etc) While moving radios and laptops out of the cab aren’t an option-do consider reducing anything that doesn’t have to be in the cab.
=TODAY add smoke alarms to the same places you tell the public to put them. IN and around firehouse living spaces, etc.
=SPEND THE MONEY and equip EVERY FIREHOUSE with automatic fire detection and alarm equipment tied to a monitoring system. They are VERY low cost these days.
=CONSIDER RETROFITTING EXISTING FIREHOUSES AND DESIGN ALL NEW FIREHOUSES with fire detection and alarm systems and fire sprinklers.
REDUCE THE RISK: When Fire Stations Catch Fire (article)
https://www.iafc.org/blogs/iafc/2026/09/16/fire-apparatus-fires-be-prepared.-be-protected.-be-safe
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 10/5/2026-1352 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
