United States Fire Administration
1 April 2024
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Firefighter James Ward, Jr., 49, of the Virginia Department of Forestry on 30 March 2024.
On Saturday, March 30, 2024, Firefighter James Ward, Jr. was at the scene of a three-acre wildfire in Virginia when he collapsed while working with a hand crew. CPR was initiated and Firefighter Ward was then transported to the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he was pronounced deceased. The fire was contained by Saturday evening.
Age: 49
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Wildland Part-Time
Incident date: March 30, 2024 5:00 p.m.
Date of death: March 30, 2024
Cause of fatal injury: Unknown
Nature of fatal injury: Unknown
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 2024 currently is 18.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2024.
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 