United States Fire Administration
16 September 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter Joe Flake, 65, of the Wellston Fire Department on 7 September 2026.
Firefighter Joe Flake responded with the Wellston Fire Department to a grass fire with a structure involved. While using an ax on the outside wall of the structure to ventilate, Firefighter Flake suffered a medical emergency. Aid was rendered immediately and Firefighter Flake was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Age: 65
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: Sep. 7, 2026 3:31 PM
Date of death: Sep. 7, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Cardiovascular Event/Heart Attack
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 62.
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 Laura Metheny, KOCO.
