United States Fire Administration
7 October 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Assistant Chief Richard Alan “Bubba” Wright, 48, of Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire and Rescue on 29 September 2026.
On June 23, 2016, Assistant Chief Richard Alan “Bubba” Wright was swept under fast-moving water while assisting with rescue efforts after the area experienced extreme flooding. When fellow firefighters got to Assistant Chief Wright, he was in cardiac arrest. CPR was initiated and he was resuscitated. Assistant Chief Wright was then transported to a hospital where it was determined he suffered a traumatic brain injury that impacted his ability to move and speak. Assistant Chief Wright passed away on September 29, 2026, from the injuries he sustained in the 2016 incident.
Age: 48
Rank: Assistant Chief
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: June 23, 2016
Date of death: Sep. 29, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Caught or Trapped
Nature of fatal injury: Drowning
Activity type: Search and Rescue
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Non-Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 67.
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 Facebook.
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