United States Fire Administration
4 October 2022
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Chief Timothy R. Pfleger, 32, of the Keyport Fire Department on 30 September 2022.
On July 16, 2022, Chief Timothy R. Pfleger was involved in a motor vehicle crash while returning from fire department mandated training at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. As Chief Pfleger was driving his Keyport Borough assigned vehicle, it was struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle.
Chief Pfleger sustained traumatic injuries and was transported via ambulance to Jersey Shore University Trauma Center. After being stabilized, he underwent surgery to reconstruct his right hip. In the days after his surgery, Chief Pfleger was transported to a long-term facility for further rehabilitation. After approximately one month in the long-term rehab facility, he was able to be transported home to continue further rehab there. On Sept. 30, 2022, Chief Pfleger was transported back to the hospital for a medical emergency and passed away. An autopsy determined that Chief Pfleger’s cause of death was pulmonary failure due to immobility produced by his injuries sustained in the crash.
Age: 32
Rank: Chief
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: July 16, 2022 1:00 p.m.
Date of death: September 30, 2022
Cause of death: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of death: Trauma
Activity type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Emergency duty: No
Duty type: Training
Fixed property use: Public Assembly
The number of on-duty deaths for 2022 currently is 74.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2022.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Data Not Drama 