USFA On-Duty Death: Ohio

United States Fire Administration
1 May 2025

The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Firefighter John Saunders, 41, of the Greenwich Fire Department on 16 April 2025.

Firefighter John Saunders suffered fatal injuries while battling a house fire. The cause of death has yet to be determined, and the fire remains under investigation.

Age: 41
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: Apr. 16, 2025 10:18 PM
Date of death: Apr. 16, 2025
Cause of fatal injury: Unknown
Nature of fatal injury: Unknown
Activity type: Unknown
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Residential

The number of on-duty deaths for 2025 is currently 30.

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 Eastman Funeral Home.

Published by Data Not Drama

Data Not Drama is writings that provide a point of critical thought about firefighter fatality data and education, line of duty deaths, and risk. The main focus is to encourage less risk aversion and better knowledge on the subject of firefighter fatalities in firefighters, fire departments, and fire service organizations. View more posts