NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 77

Selected 2019 US Firefighter Fatalities (continued)
maintain a voluntary registry of firefighters in
the US that can be used to monitor the incidence
of cancer in the fire service. This data will be
linked to data in state cancer registries and will be
available to researchers. NIOSH will develop and
maintain the registry, which will be open to all
current and former firefighters.
The Fire Protection Research Foundation is
involved in a 30-year cohort study to track exposures and effects, as well as a study to develop
prototypes for real-time particulate and toxic
gas sensors to alert firefighters to hazards in the
air. A foundation report on the development and
implementation of a fire service contaminant control campaign is posted on NFPA's website. The
findings from these studies will inform relevant
NFPA standards for the fire service as well as educational and training programs aimed at reducing
firefighter exposures.
Recognition of the importance of behavioral
health programs and peer support for firefighters has become widespread in recent years. As
with heart disease and cancer, this is a problem
that follows firefighters after their careers end,
whether in retirement or some other form of
separation from the fire service. Many programs
are available to firefighters and retired firefighters that address behaviorial issues. The National
Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), for example, has
a program for firefighters, EMTs, and their families called Share the Load, which points them
to resources and support for mental well-being.
In June, NVFC launched a directory, available at
nvfc.org, of licensed behavioral health professionals familiar with the fire service culture, part of an
effort to help improve access to behavioral health
care for firefighters.
Additionally, the International Association of
Fire Fighters (IAFF) offers advice on establishing
a peer support program. In October 2019, the
IAFF launched a suicide reporting system for its
members, and it has also developed material on
coping in the aftermath of a friend or colleague's
death by suicide. In collaboration with the
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Medical University of South Carolina has developed a
training course for counselors who work with firefighters. NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department
Occupational Safety and Health Program, requires
access to a behavioral health program that provides assessment, counseling, and treatment for
issues including "stress, alcohol and substance
abuse, anxiety, depression, traumatic exposure,
suicidality and personal problems."
Both the U.S. House and Senate have introduced
bills to establish a public safety officer suicide
reporting system at the CDC in order to collect
information on the incidence of suicide in this
group and to aid in the study of ways to reduce
deaths by suicide among firefighters and other

firefighter. The firefighter was
ashen and without pulse and
respirations. Medics and firefighters were able to restore
his pulse and transport him
to the hospital where he later
succumbed to a single gunshot
wound to his back. The suspect
was eventually shot and killed
by police on scene. The police
officer and civilian who were
also shot in the incident were
both expected to recover.
EXPLOSION WHILE
PREPARING FOR COMMUNITY
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
A firefighter was killed and
another was severely injured
when aerial shells exploded
while they were preparing for a
fireworks display.
Twelve firefighters were
involved in preparations for
the community's Fourth of
July fireworks display in a cityowned storage facility. The
building was a windowless
concrete block structure with a
metal roof, a metal rollup door
on one side of the structure,
and two sets of double doors.
Firefighters moved shells from
a storage container outside
into the structure where they
fused the aerial shells with
electric matches. The prepared
shells were then stored in the
structure.
The firefighters had been
working for three hours and
were almost finished when a
shell one firefighter was holding ignited and exploded. That
explosion caused other explosions involving all the shells in
the building. The resulting pressure buildup blew out the walls,
and burning material ignited
the other contents of the building. The two firefighters in the
immediate area were severely
burned and were airlifted to the
trauma unit.
One of them, a 46-year-old
firefighter, succumbed to his
injuries six weeks later. The
36-year-old firefighter who
had been holding the shell
that exploded was treated
for burns and released after
approximately one month in
the hospital. The other 10 firefighters received minor injuries
and were treated at the scene
or in the emergency room and
released.
A state fire marshal's investigation determined the cause to
be accidental.
HEAT EXPOSURE DURING
TRAINING HIKE
At approximately 8:40 a.m.,
an engine crew consisting of
an officer and two firefighters
began a training hike as part of
a daily fitness routine. All three
firefighters, dressed in full

wildland personal protective
equipment and carrying hand
tools, began the approximately
1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) hike
through terrain consisting of
gravel and loose boulders.
The trail included flat areas as
well as slopes and substantial
elevations. The weather was
sunny with a temperature of 78
degrees F (26 degrees C) and a
relative humidity of 63 percent.
The expected time to complete
the hike was 30 minutes.
During the hike, the officer
and one firefighter had to wait
for the second firefighter to
catch up on more than one
occasion. After completing
the hike in approximately 40
minutes, the officer determined they did not meet the
30-minute time requirement,
and after a 20-minute break to
rehydrate they would repeat
the hike.
At approximately 9:40 a.m.,
the crew began the second
hike. One firefighter noticed
that the other firefighter didn't
seem to fully recover from the
first hike. During the second
hike, the firefighter needed to
take numerous breaks. After
climbing over one of the elevated ridges, he fell forward
and sat down. The officer and
the second firefighter took
measures to cool him, removing
his helmet, jacket, and shirt and
pouring water over his head,
but his mental status declined.
A medical response, including an airlift, was initiated,
but due to the location and
difficult terrain it was almost
two hours before the patient
reached the hospital. The firefighter was unresponsive but
breathing during transport. He
succumbed to his injuries early
the next morning.
An autopsy determined that
the 28-year-old firefighter had
died from heat exposure with
a body temperature that had
reached 107 degrees F (42
degrees C). The death was
ruled as accidental.
WATER TANKER CRASH WHILE
RESPONDING TO BRUSH FIRE
A 45-year-old volunteer
firefighter was killed in a
mid-afternoon crash while
responding alone to a reported
brush fire.
The firefighter, who had been
a member of the fire department for only a few months,
was driving westbound in a
water tanker carrying 1,900
gallons of water when the
vehicle went onto the shoulder.
The firefighter overcorrected,
causing the truck to cross the
centerline of the two-lane road,
strike a rock embankment on
the opposite side, and overturn.

N F PA . O R G / J O U R N A L * NFPA JOURNAL

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NFPA Journal - July/August 2020

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