United States Fire Administration
13 March 2023
Earlier: Virginia Fire Chief, Forestry Firefighter Killed at Wildfire
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Forest Technician Rocky S. Wood, 54, of the Virginia Department of Forestry on 9 March 2023.
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Forest Technician Rocky S. Wood was at the scene of a 15-acre wildfire in Buchanan County. He was scouting the area to determine where to create a containment line around the perimeter of the fire when the ATV he was driving overturned. Forest Technician Wood died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the accident. He was also the Fire Chief of the Haysi Volunteer Fire Department in Virginia.
Age: 54
Rank: Forest Technician
Classification: Career
Incident date: March 9, 2023 8:00 p.m.
Date of death: March 9, 2023
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2023 currently is 13.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2023.
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 