JR FIREFIGHTER KILLED RESPONDING, LODD Accusations & Frustrations (The Secret List)

All,

We regret to pass on that A.F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Company of Girard (PA) Junior Firefighter Bryce Kaufmann, 17, lost his life in the Line of Duty on September 21 from injuries while answering an emergency call on an E-Bike. According to police, he was on the E-Bike and didn’t stop at a stop sign and hit a sedan on its front right side, ejecting the teen from the bike.

Erie County Deputy Coroner stated that the 17-year-old died Monday evening at UPMC Hamot of blunt force trauma and ruled the death as accidental.

The fire company described Kaufmann as a dedicated junior member whose passion for helping others left a lasting impact on fellow firefighters and the community. Information regarding memorial arrangements and fire service honors will be announced at a later date in coordination with Kaufmann’s family.

Governor Josh Shapiro ordered Commonwealth and United States flags on all public buildings, grounds and Commonwealth facilities in Erie County to fly at half-staff in honor of Junior Firefighter Bryce Kaufmann. Our condolences to all those affected. Rest In Peace.

Attorneys representing the widow of a fallen Irmo Firefighter claim the City of Columbia is stalling the over year-long legal fight as it nears a trial date.

Lawyers representing Emma Muller, the widow of Irmo Fire District Firefighter James Muller, claimed in a filing on Sept. 21 that the City of Columbia abruptly asked to reschedule depositions in the case that were originally set to take place in October.

Irmo Firefighter James Muller, 25, died in the line of duty (reports below) in a fire at the Tropical Ridge Apartments in May 2023. He was part of a mutual aid response from the Irmo Fire District after the Columbia-Richland Fire Department had already been at the scene.

Nearly two years later, Emma Muller filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming CRFD’s use of deck guns and master streams caused a roof to collapse while her husband was still inside. Among other allegations, the lawsuit also claims a mayday call was mishandled, causing James Muller to be trapped for nearly 45 minutes while he was still conscious before being freed.

James Muller was then taken to a hospital, where he later died.

In the Sept. 21 filing, Emma Muller’s attorneys seek to depose 26 city employees and officials, including CRFD Chief Aubrey Jenkins. Documents state that the city listed 57 potential witnesses without contact information, and then ignored multiple requests to schedule those depositions. Both parties initially set an August date for the depositions, but Muller’s attorneys claim the city asked in late July to postpone those to October. The plaintiffs agreed to that.

Then, on Sept. 18, Muller’s attorneys claim the city abruptly asked to postpone the depositions again, this time to January 2027. The reasons cited were “court summons” and “jury duty”…

Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.

BillyG

The Secret List 9/24/2026-0800 Hours