The United States Fire Administration has received notice of the following 8 firefighter fatalities in the month of June:
Name: Bradley S. Long Rank: Captain
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 06/06/2016
Fire Department: Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire Rescue Age: 28
Years of Service: 12
Incident Description: Captain Bradley Long and one other diver were searching for a missing 29- year-old man in Lake Norman when they encountered an emergency. A third diver entered the water after a Mayday was called. While the two other divers eventually surfaced, Captain Long never resurfaced and was later recovered and pronounced dead at the scene. Rescue crews had been searching Lake Norman for the missing man a day prior to the emergency involving Captain Long. Officials said that the missing man jumped off a boat with two other people. The boat was not anchored and started to float away. The three tried to swim and catch up with the boat, but the missing man was not able to make it back to the boat. While the search for the man was suspended when Captain Long went missing, officials confirmed that the body of the missing man was eventually recovered as well. The two other divers were responsive when taken to the hospital for treatment, one of which has been released.
On June 6, 28 y/o Captain Bradley Long of the Sherrills Ford-Terrell VFD located in North Carolina died in the LOD
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Name: Douglas A. Clement Fire Department: New Hampton Fire Department |
Rank: Firefighter-AEMT Age: 43 |
Incident Description: Fewer than 24 hours following participation in motor vehicle extrication and rescue training at the fire department, Firefighter-AEMT Clement experienced a medical emergency at his residence. Firefighter-AEMT Clement was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to a reported heart attack. |
On June 14, 43 y/o Firefighter Douglas Clement of the New Hampton FD located in New Hampshire died in the LOD
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Name: Joshua Warren
Rank: Firefighter
Status: Part-time (paid)
Date of Incident: 06/16/2016
Fire Department: Alexis Volunteer Fire Department Age: 34
Years of Service: 9
Incident Description: Firefighter Warren fell ill from a nature of injury still to be determined while on-duty and engaged in physical fitness training at a local middle school. Warren was rushed to CHS-Lincoln Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injury.
On June 16, 34 y/o Firefighter Joshua Warren of the Alexis VFD located in North Carolina died in the LOD
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Name: Clifford M. Rigsbee Rank: Firefighter III
Status: Career
Date of Incident: 06/14/2016
Fire Department: Honolulu Fire Department Age: 63
Years of Service: 21
Date of Death: 06/16/2016
Incident Description: Firefighter III Rigsbee was found unconscious and floating in the water immediately after being separated from a jet ski/rescue sled while participating in a rescue watercraft training exercise. The firefighter operating the jet ski jumped into the water to initiate a rescue and with the assistance of others, including a nearby off-duty firefighter, brought Rigsbee to shore where he was rushed to the Straub Medical Center in critical condition. The firefighter/operator of the watercraft, who was also injured in the incident, was treated at the hospital and released. In spite of all efforts, Firefighter Rigsbee, who had suffered a spinal column injury, succumbed two days later while in the hospital.
On June 16, 63 y/o Firefighter Clifford Rigsbee of the Honolulu FD located in Hawaii died in the LOD
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Name: David K. Britt
Rank: Fire Chief
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 06/17/2016
Fire Department: Severn Volunteer Fire Department Age: 54
Years of Service: 31
Date of Death: 06/18/2016
Incident Description: Fire Chief Britt suffered a medical emergency at his home several hours after responding to a motor vehicle crash. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.
On June 18, 54 y/o Fire Chief David Britt of the Severn VFD located in North Carolina died in the LOD
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Name: Michael Morgan Rank: Deputy Fire Chief Status: Volunteer Fire Department: Garrettford – Drexel Hill VFD Age: 48 |
Incident Description: Deputy Fire Chief Michael Morgan began feeling ill during or shortly after responding to two fire calls on May 3, 2016. After a brief rest period at the firehouse, Chief Morgan reported for his midnight shift at the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center where his condition worsened and was then transported by ambulance to Riddle Memorial Hospital in Middletown. Chief Morgan succumbed to his CVA related injuries on June 26, 2016. On June 26, 48 y/o Deputy Fire Chief Michael Morgan of the Garrettford Drexel Hill VFD |
located in Pennsylvania died in the LOD ==================================================================== |
Name: John R. Fritz Fire Department: Austintown Fire Department Rank: Firefighter Age: 48 |
Status: Career Years of Service: 24 Date of Incident: 06/27/2016 |
Incident Description: While on duty at Austintown Fire Station #1, Firefighter Fritz passed away from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be determined. Firefighter Fritz ran several emergency calls throughout his shift, and when he did not report to the truck for an emergency medical response, his crew found him in the station unresponsive. Fellow responders and Lane Life Trans Ambulance provided medical assistance but Firefighter Fritz did not regain consciousness. |
On June 27, 48 y/o Firefighter John Fritz of the Austintown FD located in Ohio died in the LOD
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Name: Eric C. Speck
Rank: Captain
Status: Volunteer
Date of Incident: 06/23/2016
Fire Department: Dakota City Fire Department Age: 38
Years of Service: 16
Date of Death: 06/27/2016
Incident Description: On June 23, 2016, Captain Speck complained of chest pains while on- scene of an emergency medical call. Afterward, he traveled to the hospital where it was found he had suffered a heart attack. Captain Speck succumbed to his injury on the morning of June 27, 2016, while in the hospital.
On June 27, 38 y/o Captain Eric Speck of the Dakota City VFD located in Nebraska died in the LOD
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To date 33 firefighter fatalities have been reported to The United States Fire Administration in 2016, May They Rest In Peace.