United States Fire Administration
31 October 2023
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Assistant Chief Joseph Back, 59, of the Whitesburg Fire Department on 30 October 2023.
On Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, Assistant Chief Joseph Back responded to the scene of a medical emergency at a residence. While at the scene, he suffered a massive heart attack. He was immediately transported to the local hospital where he remained in a coma until his passing on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.
Age: 59
Rank: Assistant Chief
Classification: Career
Incident date: October 27, 2023 8:00 p.m.
Date of death: October 30, 2023
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Heart Attack
Activity type: EMS/Patient Care
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Non-Fire
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2023 currently is 70.
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 