The United States Fire Administration has received notice of the following 5 firefighter fatalities in the month of February:
Name: James R. Varnell Rank: Firefighter
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 02/02/2016
Fire Department: Bakertown VFD Age: 53
Years of Service: 20+
Incident Description: Firefighter Varnell was at the fire department attending training. As Varnell was preparing to depart, he became ill and fellow responders quickly came to his aid with basic life support measures. As more assistance arrived, advanced life support was provided as Varnell was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to a nature and cause of injury still to be determined.
On February 2, 53 y/o Firefighter James Varnell of the Bakertown VFD located in North Carolina died in the LOD
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Name: James J. Butler, Jr. Rank: Chief Driver
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 02/07/2016
Fire Department: Derby VFD Age: 50
Years of Service:
Incident Description: Upon returning to the fire house from responding to a fire alarm activation with his fire company, Chief Driver Butler complained to fellow firefighters that he did not feel well. While at his residence several hours later, Butler succumbed to a nature and cause of illness still to be determined.
On February 7, 50 y/o Chief Driver James Butler of the Derby VFD located in Connecticut died in the LOD
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Name: David W. Conley Rank: Lieutenant
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 02/10/2016
Fire Department: Olive Hill Fire Department Age: 48
Years of Service: 8
Incident Description: Lieutenant Conley fell ill from an apparent heart attack while on-duty at the fire station. Conley was treated by fellow responders and transported to the hospital in Morehead, KY, where he succumbed to his injury.
On February 10, 48 y/o Lieutenant David Conley of the Olive Hill VFD located in Kentucky died in the LOD
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Name: Daniel F. Cool
Rank: Assistant Fire Chief Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 02/11/2016
Fire Department: Jefferson County VFD Age: 71
Years of Service: 50
Date of Death: 02/14/2016
Incident Description: Assistant Fire Chief Cool responded to an emergency incident on the morning of February 11th. Later that day, he attended a training meeting and collapsed suddenly from a heart attack. Chief Cool was admitted to St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS, where he succumbed to his injury early in the morning of February 14th.
On February 14, 71 y/o Assistant Chief Daniel Cool of the Jefferson County VFD located in Kansas died in the LOD
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Name: Shawna Lynn Jones Rank: Inmate Firefighter Status: Wildland Part-Time Date of Incident: 02/25/2016
Fire Department: CAL FIRE Age: 22
Years of Service: 1
Date of Death: 02/26/2016
Incident Description: Inmate Firefighter Jones was working as part of a hand crew in a steep ravine on a fire in Agoura Hills-Malibu, California, when a large rock fell about 100 feet from the hillside above and struck her in the head. Firefighter Jones was treated immediately on scene by her fellow firefighters and quickly hoisted into a Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter then airlifted to UCLA Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries the following day. Thanks to firefighters on the ground combined with air attacks, the fire was brought under control and no structures were lost. Investigation into the cause of the fire continues by local and state authorities.
On February 26, 22 y/o Firefighter Shawna Jones of CAL FIRE located in California died in the LOD
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To date 12 firefighter fatalities have been reported to The United States Fire Administration in 2016, May They Rest In Peace.