USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853

September 29, 2010

Emmitsburg, MD – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2009 (PDF, 2.7 Mb).  The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities.  The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States each year.

Ninety onduty firefighters from 33 states lost their lives as the result of incidents that occurred in 2009.  Pennsylvania experienced the highest number of fatalities (8).  In addition to Pennsylvania, only New York (7), North Carolina (6), Louisiana (5), and Texas (5), respectively, had five or more firefighter fatalities.  This compares favorably to 2008's firefighter losses where 9 states experienced 5 or more onduty fatalities.  The total number of fatalities in 2009 was one of the lowest totals in more than 30 years of record.

"Over the past ten years alone, the trend shows a 14 percent reduction in onduty firefighter fatalities but we must continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety, everyone goes home,” Acting United States Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines said.

The unique and specific objective of Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates during the calendar year and to present in summary narrative form the circumstances surrounding each occurrence.

An overview of the 90 firefighters that died while on duty in 2009:

·         The total break down included 47 volunteer, 36 career, and 7 wildland agency firefighters.

·         There were 6 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 or more firefighters were killed, claiming a total of 13 firefighters' lives.

·         16 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires, compared to 26 such fatalities in 2008.

·         Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 57 firefighters.

·         30 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.

·         15 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 13 emergency incidents in 2009.  This compares to 24 responding/returning fatalities in 2008.

·         10 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.

·         14 firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.

·         Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 39 firefighter deaths.

For 33 years, USFA has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis.  Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future.  This information is also used by many organizations to measure the effectiveness of their current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which worked closely with USFA on this report, also maintains a list of firefighters who die in the line-of-duty and are honored during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held each October in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Visit www.FireHero.org for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and their assistance to the families of the firefighters lost in 2009 and beyond.

Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted on the USFA's website.

REMINDER Memorial Weekend October 2-3 2010

You can watch the 2010 National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight and Memorial Services Live on the Web

Live Broadcasts:

» Candlelight Service Broadcast: Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 6:45 p.m.; Service Begins at 7 p.m.)
» Memorial Service Broadcast: Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:00 am - 12:30 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 9:30 a.m.; Service Begins at 10 a.m.)

105 Firefighters Honored at the National Memorial

The 29th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg on October 2-3, 2010.  A plaque with the names of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2009 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  Military firefighters who died while performing firefighting duties from 1981-2009 are among 25 from previous years who are also being honored.

Help us honor them by watching the 2010 Services live on the Web.

Uncle Jay Explains - September 19, 2010

UncleJayExplains | September 19, 2010

Halloween and the midterm elections are coming, and we all know which is more frightening. Uncle Jay can't help being nervous, but he's not nearly as nervous as some politicians. They might have to actually start looking for the jobs they haven't created.

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hinsdale, IL

Mark Johnson of the Hinsdale Fire Department in Hinsdale, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-2

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson. Please click for more information and arrangements.

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson     It is with deep regret that the Hinsdale Fire Department announces the Line of Duty death on Monday September 20th of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, a twenty-four year veteran of the Department.

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Irvine, CA

James M. Owen of the Orange County Fire Authority in Irvine, CA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-16

Ground Zero Mosque Backers Divided

Fox News uses map of 9/11 body parts to fight ground zero mosque. Rupert Murdoch's media empire has set what may be a new standard of shamelessness by marking the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks with the publication of a map of human remains that appears to have been developed for the New York Fire Department in 2002 but was never previously released.http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/fox-map-911-body-parts/

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Boycott Building  FOX News

If the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero gets off the ground , it will need hard hats to build it. But there ..... a mixed reaction from construction workers near Ground Zero about whether they would want to be part of the construction … liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/09/20/boycott-building-ground-zero-mosque/

AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

News,  Notes,  and Announcements from the
AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

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Aurora Regional Fire Museum Opens New Exhibit and Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day Exhibit, “Museums Un-Crated” offers an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will open their new exhibit “Museums Un-Crated” which features nineteen rare firefighting artifacts recently transferred from the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
It’s a well-known movie ending. The legendary Ark of the Covenant has been rescued from evil, only to be boxed up in a wooden crate, stenciled with an identification number, and then seemingly lost inside a vast storage warehouse.
Although the movie’s plot is pure fiction, large museums such as the Smithsonian do have gigantic collection warehouses where objects are stored in wooden crates. The catalyst for the new exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is the recent transfer of nineteen rare firefighting artifacts from the collections storage warehouse of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Why did the Smithsonian decide to offer these objects to another museum, and why did the fire museum accept them? Who decides what a museum should collect and what should be exhibited? How do museums use the things in their collections, and where do they keep the objects not on display?
In short, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s new exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" opens the mythical wooden storage crates of a museum, and gives visitors an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things.
In addition to the new exhibit, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide in opening their doors free of charge on Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Smithsonian Magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day.
In a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based facilities. Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009.
Listings and links to participating museums, and a free Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people at participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per email address.

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The exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" will be open Sept. 25th though 2011. For the latest hours, exhibit, and special event information, visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum's website:

http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org

AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

News,  Notes,  and Announcements from the
AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

---

Aurora Regional Fire Museum Opens New Exhibit and Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day Exhibit, “Museums Un-Crated” offers an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will open their new exhibit “Museums Un-Crated” which features nineteen rare firefighting artifacts recently transferred from the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
It’s a well-known movie ending. The legendary Ark of the Covenant has been rescued from evil, only to be boxed up in a wooden crate, stenciled with an identification number, and then seemingly lost inside a vast storage warehouse.
Although the movie’s plot is pure fiction, large museums such as the Smithsonian do have gigantic collection warehouses where objects are stored in wooden crates. The catalyst for the new exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is the recent transfer of nineteen rare firefighting artifacts from the collections storage warehouse of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Why did the Smithsonian decide to offer these objects to another museum, and why did the fire museum accept them? Who decides what a museum should collect and what should be exhibited? How do museums use the things in their collections, and where do they keep the objects not on display?
In short, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s new exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" opens the mythical wooden storage crates of a museum, and gives visitors an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things.
In addition to the new exhibit, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide in opening their doors free of charge on Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Smithsonian Magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day.
In a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based facilities. Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009.
Listings and links to participating museums, and a free Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people at participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per email address.

---

The exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" will be open Sept. 25th though 2011. For the latest hours, exhibit, and special event information, visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum's website:

http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org

Fire News from all Over

Man, 82, survives 20 hours with legs trapped in combine Montreal Gazette - The 82-year-old man was discovered at approximately 8:30 am by his son-in-law, who called EMS. His son-in-law was coming to take the man to a family ...

College Park firefighters consider billing for fire services - Business Gazette

3 Civilians Killed In Ambulance Crash - 2 Firefighters Hurt FireFighting News.com - The crash resulted in 3 civilian fatalities and two Firefighter/Medics being transported to a Trauma Center. Ambulance 826 had just departed the Fire/EMS ... Three Civilians Killed in Maryland Ambo Crash Firehouse.com

South Macon EMT Injured By Blue Mound Emergency Vehicle FireFighting News.com - Holmgren said the EMT who was driving the truck is an experienced member of the fire department. The truck'semergency lights were on when it struck Minor, ...

Clinton considers $4.5 million settlement Quad City Times - The Clinton City Council is scheduled to approve a settlement claiming the fire department fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for emergency services. ...

Uncle Jay Explains | September 12, 2010

We didn't see any books on fire, but we're seeing vast Colorado wildfires, a vast California gas fire, and vast numbers of Democrats about to be fired. Summer's over, but the heat of politics is just warming up. Uncle Jay explains!

Gubmint and How Gubmint Works

"THIS" is from both sides of the isle!

This HAS been going around as a email for a while and thought that I count not pass posting .

Not just one Political party, unless you count  "Progressives" as a Political Party!

Gubmint and How Gubmint Works
Once upon a time the government had a vast  scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."  
So they created a night watchman  position and hired a person for the job.
Then  Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job  without instruction?" So they created a planning department and  hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one  person to do time studies.
Then Congress  said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks  correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department  and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.
Then Congress said, "How are these  people going to get paid?" So They created two  positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.
Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an
Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a  Legal Secretary.
Then Congress said, "We  have had this command in operation for one Year and we are  $918,000 over budget, we must cutback." So they laid off the night  watchman.
NOW slowly, let it sink  in.
Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.
Does anybody remember the reason given for  the establishment of
the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY..... during the  Carter Administration?
Anybody?
Anything?
No?
Didn't  think so!
Bottom line. We've spent several hundred  billion dollars in support of an agency....the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!
Ready??
It was very simple..and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The  Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977,
TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
Hey,  pretty efficient, huh???
AND NOW IT'S 2010 -- 33  YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT  $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE! (THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?")
33 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports.  Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.
Ah, yes -- good old Federal bureaucracy.
NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM,  HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE SAME  GOVERNMENT?    

Hello!!  Anybody Home?

Remembering 9/11 NEVER FORGET

Some Links for you

All 343 Members Murdered on 9/11

FDNY - The Official Fire Department, City of New York, Web Site 

THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department

IAFF Remembers the 9/11 Fallen

September 11, 2010– Today marks the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that terrible day, 347 IAFF members, including 343 FDNY fire fighters, lost their lives.

 Never Forget

Remembering 9/11 NEVER FORGET

Some Links for you

All 343 Members Murdered on 9/11

FDNY - The Official Fire Department, City of New York, Web Site 

THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department

IAFF Remembers the 9/11 Fallen

September 11, 2010– Today marks the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that terrible day, 347 IAFF members, including 343 FDNY fire fighters, lost their lives.

 Never Forget

Recent LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Manahawkin, NJ

Edward Eckert of the Stafford Township Fire Department in Manahawkin, NJ has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-06-01

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Pine Level, NC

Jonathan Lewis "Johnny" Littleton of the Pine Level Fire Department in Pine Level, NC has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-08-19

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Tarrytown, NY

John Kelly of the Tarrytown Fire Department in Tarrytown, NY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-06

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lorraine, KS

Larry Suiter of the Lorraine Green Garden Fire Department in Lorraine, KS has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-03

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Delta, PA

Douglas Farrington of the Delta-Cardiff Volunteer Company in Delta, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-08-22

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOOD ANALOGY

Excellent analogy here for those who still
"don't get it".....

True or NOT this is a good example: This man is truly amazing!
An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have  an experiment in this class on Obama's
plan".
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A....
After the first test, the grades were averaged
and everyone got a BE. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little  were happy. As the second test rolled around,
the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied
little.
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the
benefit of anyone else. All failed, to their great surprise, and the
professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could not be any simpler than that. (Please pass this on)
Remember, there is a test coming up. The mid-term election in 2010!

Uncle Jay September 6, 2010

 

Uncle Jay has one more week of vacation, but explaining the news is a full-time job! So, since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer had some, um, trouble last week explaining her state's immigration law, let's see if Uncle Jay's episode from last spring does any better.

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Delta, PA

Douglas Farrington of the Delta-Cardiff Volunteer Company in Delta, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-08-22

Firefighter Farrington responded the fire station to man a backup engine as the company responded to a barn fire in Peach Bottom Township of York County, PA. After the fire company returned to the station, Farrington assisted in cleaning and a putting away the equipment and then went home at approximately 2330hrs. The following morning after he had reported to duty at his full-time job with the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department, Firefighter Farrington stayed just a short time and then returned home where he passed away from a fatal heart attack at approximately 1116hrs. Incident Location: 690 Nace RD, Peach Bottom Township, PA

Uncle Jay Explains August 29, 2010

UncleJayExplains |

In the media, reporters cheer, "We'll Always Have Paris!" In Washington, citizens demand, "Restore honor!" to a government that's away on vacation. And so is Uncle Jay! This episode is a rerun. He'll be back soon!