United States Fire Administration
3 September 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter Juan Antonia Smith II, 26, of Rockdale County Fire Rescue on 12 June 2026.
Firefighter Juan Antonia Smith II was responding with the Rockdale County Fire Rescue to a residential structure fire in a ladder truck. During the response, the truck overturned onto its passenger side as it was attempting to make a left turn. Firefighter Smith, who was riding in the rear jump seat, was ejected and pinned underneath the vehicle. Firefighter Smith suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Age: 26
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: June 12, 2026 4:46 PM
Date of death: June 12, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Riding Vehicle/Apparatus
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: Responding
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 60.
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 Rockdale County Fire Rescue/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 