United States Fire Administration
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter Andrew Cross, 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department on 15 May 2026.
At 10:05 a.m. on May 15, 2026, Firefighter Andrew Cross responded with the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department to a fire in a wood chip silo at a lumber mill. While firefighters were working to contain the fire, an explosion occurred. Later that day around 7:00 p.m., Firefighter Cross was found at the scene and pronounced deceased from the fatal injuries he suffered during the explosion.
Age: 27
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: May 15, 2026 10:05 AM
Date of death: May 15, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Struck By
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Manufacturing
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 26.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2026.
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.”
Photo courtesy of Morrill Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 