Updated: Listed by the USFA on 21 January.
On Saturday, January 11, 2025, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a mutual aid call to a fire at a residence. Master Firefighter Christopher Higgins was the driver of the first ladder truck on the scene. While performing emergency operations on the exterior of the structure, he experienced a medical emergency. First responders immediately initiated CPR and he was then transported to the hospital where he passed away. The cause of his death has yet to be determined. *Master Firefighter Higgins was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant.
Age: 46
Rank: Lieutenant*
Classification: Career
Incident date: Jan. 11, 2025 6:00 PM
Date of death: Jan. 11, 2025
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: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2025 currently is 4.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2025.
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.”
Earlier:
By Bill Carey
12 January 2025
LAUREL, Md. —Montgomery County Firefighter Christopher Higgins died on 11 January while at a house fire in Laurel.
Higgins had responded to a house fire in the 15600 block of Bradford Drive. Fire Chief Corey Smedley said Higgins was the driver of Truck 715 (Burtonsville), the first ladder truck, and while working outside of the structure suffered “some kind of medical emergency.” WTOP reported that Higgins was throwing ladders when he collapsed.
Personnel on the scene started CPR and transported Higgins to Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Southern Maryland News Net reported that the fire involved a carport with extension into the house.
Higgins’ death will likely be the third listed by the USFA for 2025 following the death of the Honolulu firefighter on 6 January.
Photograph courtesy of Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 