United States Fire Administration
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter Robert Kilduff, 53, of the Boston Fire Department on 23 May 2026.
At approximately 8:05 p.m., firefighters responded to a residential structure fire that quickly went to three alarms. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly extinguished much of the fire and kept it from spreading to neighboring houses.
A short time later, a mayday was declared after Firefighter Robert Kilduff fell from a rear porch on the third floor. Fellow firefighters located Firefighter Kilduff and, along with emergency medical personnel, treated him at the scene. Firefighter Kilduff was then transported to a local hospital where, despite all efforts, he passed away from the injuries he sustained in the fall. Firefighter Kilduff was a third generation Boston firefighter.
Age: 53
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: May 23, 2026 8:05 PM
Date of death: May 23, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Fall
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: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 27.
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 Boston Fire Department/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 