Note: The Associated Press and local news on 20 May stated Leatherman died protecting his wife during a tornado, “Leatherman, 57, died while shielding his wife, Michelle, from flying debris, said Terry Wattenbarger, deputy chief of the Laurel County Fire Department, where Leatherman served as a major. He was found on top of his wife, Wattenbarger said.
United States Fire Administration
19 May 2025
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Major Leslie Roger Leatherman, 57, of the Laurel County Fire Department on 16 May 2025.
Amid severe weather including a reported tornado, Major Leslie Roger Leatherman was fatally injured while responding to an emergency call for a residential fire. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Age: 57
Rank: Major
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: May 16, 2025 11:47 PM
Date of death: May 16, 2025
Cause of fatal injury: Unknown
Nature of fatal injury: Unknown
Activity type: Responding
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: Responding
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2025 is currently 32.
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.”
Photograph is courtesy of the Laurel County Fire Department/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 