Earlier: S.C. Firefighter Killed Fighting Apartment Fire
United States Fire Administration
30 May 2023
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Firefighter James Michael Muller, 26, of the Irmo Fire District on 26 May 2023.
On Friday, May 26, 2023, as part of an automatic aid response with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, Irmo Fire District firefighters responded to an apartment building fire. While fighting the fire, a structural collapse occurred, and firefighters called maydays. Five firefighters from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department and another firefighter from the Irmo Fire District were rescued and taken to the hospital.
A short time later, Firefighter Muller was rescued. Emergency responders at the scene immediately began CPR on Muller and continued the life-saving efforts as they transported him to the hospital. Shortly after arrival, however, Firefighter Muller was pronounced deceased from the injuries he sustained in the collapse.
Age: 25
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: May 26, 2023 4:17 p.m.
Date of death: May 26, 2023
Cause of fatal injury: Collapse
Nature of fatal injury: Crushed
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2023 currently is 30.
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 