United States Fire Administration
6 August 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter/Trainer Gary Wayne James, 80, of the Adrian Volunteer Fire Department on 31 July 2026.
Firefighter/Trainer Gary Wayne James was responding to a vehicle fire in a fire department brush truck. During the response, Firefighter/Trainer James failed to negotiate a curve, losing control of the truck and causing it to roll over. Firefighter/Trainer James was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Age: 80
Rank: Firefighter/Trainer
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: July 31, 2026 4:15 PM
Date of death: July 31, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: Responding
Fixed property use: Street/Road
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 50.
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 Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Data Not Drama 