Question from a Reader

Bill Carey
9 January 2022

“Can you give any data on the number of firefighters killed falling into basement fires?”

Here is a general breakdown of the number of line of duty deaths from falling into basements due to structural collapse.

2012 to 2021: 11 total

Career: 8 Volunteer: 3
Multi-Fatality Incidents: 1 (3 victims)

Single-Family Dwellings (SFD): 7 (1 mansion style)
Rowhome: 3
Duplex: 1

Advancing Hoselines (AH): 9
Search (S): 2

Victim on First Alarm: 10 Victim
Victim on Second Alarm or Later: 1

2021
Joshua D. Laird MD – Career Captain – AH – First Alarm (First Due) – SFD
Garrett Edward Ramos IL – Career Lieutenant – AH – First Alarm – SFD

2020
Benjamen “Ben” K. Lauren MI – Volunteer Firefighter – AH – First Alarm – Duplex

2019
zero

2018
Nathan Eric Flynn MD – Career Firefighter – AH – First Alarm (First Due) – SFD (Mansion) FD

2017
zero

2016
Jerry Fickes DE – Career Firefighter – AH – First Alarm – Rowhome *secondary collapse NIOSH
Christopher Leach DE – Career Lieutenant – S – First Alarm – Rowhome NIOSH
Ardythe Hope DE Career Firefighter – S – First Alarm – Rowhome NIOSH

2015
Randall “Randy” Eugene Parker, Jr. GA – Career Lieutenant – AH – SFD
Patrick R Wolterman OH – Career Firefighter – AH – SFD (arson) NIOSH

2014
Joseph “Junior” Sanford Jr. NY – Volunteer Firefighter – AH – First Alarm – SFD NIOSH

2013
Matthew John Porcari NY – Volunteer Captain – AH – Mutual Aid – SFD NIOSH

2012
zero

Photograph courtesy of NIOSH/Nassau County Fire Marshal.