Our condolences to the Gibson, Hammer, Hengel, James, Moore, Price,
Ransdell, and Ruiz families, the United States Forest Service and First
Strike Environmental of Oregon. Eight contract firefighters with the
Roseburg, Oregon based company, First Strike Environmental, died
Sunday August 24, 2003. FireFighters Paul Gibson, 25, David Hammer,
25, Jeff Hengel, 21, Jesse James, 22, Richard Moore II, 21, Leland Price
Jr, 27, Mark Randsell, 23, and Ricardo Ruiz, 19, were returning from two
weeks of firefighting at Boise National Forest in South Fork, Idaho when
their van collided head on with a tractor trailer west of Vale, Oregon,
exploding in flames. The chassis of the van was split in two pieces
from the force of the impact. The two occupants of the tractor trailer
were able to free themselves and were treated for burns and dislocations
at an Ontario Hospital.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Oregon Eight Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/25/03 Photo Gallery Update
Mike Granoth, a paramedic with American Medical Response,
from Oakville, CT, sent me 5 photos of a highway
rollover on Interstate 84 in Waterbury 8/11/03. The 2
occupants that were in the Dodge Durango with a camper
trailer refused treatment. Units from the Waterbury Fire
Department responded as well as 2 units from AMR and the
Connecticut State Police. There are 5 photos in the
Mike Granoth
photo gallery.
K.C. Rist of Orange County, New York sent me some more
apparatus photos to add to his gallery. There were also some
photos of the Orange County 9/11 Remembrance Memorial
pictured here. There are 42 photos in the
K.C. Rist
photo gallery.
8/24/03 Email Notice Suspension
Due to the rampant spread of the SoBig email worm, I have decided to
forego Email Notices until the outbreak is under control. I am still
having to sort through a mailbox full of virus generated emails everytime
I try to read my email. Yet another reason to keep your virus software
and operating system up to date.
8/19/03 Line of Duty Death - Pittsfield, MA
Our condolences to the Mickle family and the
Massachusetts Wildfire Crew. FireFighter Wayne Mickle,
48, a 27 year veteran Pittsfield Forest Fire Patrolmen
died Friday August 15, 2003. Wayne was one of 200
firefighters battling the Boles Meadow fire in Missoula,
Montana. He had told his wife in a phone call after
coming off the fireline that he wasn't feeling well.
Wayne was found deceased in his tent the next
morning of an apparent heart attack.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Wayne Mickle Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/15/03 Line of Duty Death - Racine, WV
Our condolences to the Lutsy family and the Racine
Volunteer Fire Department of West Virginia. FireFighter
Barry Lutsy, 44, a volunteer with the Racine Fire
Department died Wednesday August 13, 2003. Barry
was killed when he and another firefighter were struck by
an apparatus as it was backing into the fire station.
They had just finished cleaning the apparatus after an
afternoon car fire. The other firefighter received leg
injuries and was listed in stable condition the same evening.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Barry Lutsy Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/14/03 Line of Duty Death - Miami-Dade, FL
Our condolences to the Mitchell family and the Miami-Dade
Fire Rescue of Florida. FireFighter Recruit Wayne Mitchell,
37, was in his 14th of 16 weeks of training when he died
Friday August 8, 2003. Wayne was was overcome by heat
during a routine certification exercise in a shipboard simulation
container at the Resolve Marine Fire School in Port Everglades.
Four other recruits were overcome by heat. All five recruits
were rushed to Broward General Medical Center. Wayne died
before reaching the hospital. The four other firefighters were
treated and released.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Wayne Mitchell Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/12/03 Line of Duty Death - North Platte, NB
Our condolences to the Holmes family and the North Platte
Fire Department of Lincoln County, Nebraska. FireFighter/
EMT Ronald Holmes, 43, an 18 year veteran of the North
Platte Fire Department died Wednesday August 6, 2003.
Ronald was killed when the ambulance he was driving was
struck in the rear by a tractor trailer, pushing their
ambulance into the rear of another tractor trailer. The
accident occurred in a construction zone on I-80 while Ronald
and another firefighter were transporting a patient form North
Platte to Lincoln. The other firefighter and the patient were
injured in the accident and were transported by Life Flight
to Lincoln.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Ronald Holmes Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/10/03 Attention WFD Members
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of retired
Lieutenant Andrew Morea. Andy served the Waterbury Fire
Department for 36 years retiring in 1987. He was also an Army
veteran, serving in Central Europe during WWII with Company
B of the 741st Tank Battalion. There are no calling hours. A
mass will be held for Andy on Wednesday August 13, 2003
10AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church followed by a burial at
Calvary Cemetery.
8/9/03 Line of Duty Death - Inkom, ID
Our condolences to the Koval family and the Inkom Fire Department
of Idaho. FireFighter/EMT Jeffrey Koval, 41, a 2 year volunteer with the
Inkom Fire Department died Wednesday August 6, 2003. Jeffrey was
killed when the city owned S-10 pickup he was driving veered off
I-15, went through a fence and down a lava rock enbankment near
Century High School. An ambulance from Pocatello responded but
found Jeffrey deceased at the scene.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Jeffrey Koval Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/8/03 Line of Duty Death - Whiteriver, AZ
Our condolences to the Bonito family, the Pearce family, the
White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Fort Apache Agency of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Management of Whiteriver,
Arizona. FireFighter Randall Bonito, 32, and Pilot Jess Pearce,
50, both veteran wildland firefighters for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs died Saturday July 26, 2003. Randall and Jess were
killed when the contract helicopter they were flying in crashed
175 miles northeast of Phoenix. The helicopter was transporting
firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Aspen Ridge
area of the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Two other
firefighters were injured and hospitalized in the crash.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Randall Bonito and Jess Pearce Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
8/7/03 Photo Gallery Update
Ronkonkoma, New York FireFighter Greg Condit sent me some photos
from a rescue in an automotive garage. Apparently a minivan slipped
off the lift and pinned a mechanice up against a tall tool box. The
minivan was stabilized with cribbing and lifted with a Hurst Power Ram.
The victim was removed in 20 minutes and suffered only bruised ribs.
There are 11 photos in the
Greg Condit
photo gallery.
South Media, Pennsylvania FireFighter William Craft sent me some
photos of South Media's apparatus as well as their Rescue Box being
used during extrication training. There are 6 photos in the
William Craft
photo gallery.
8/3/03 Attention WFD Members
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of retired
FireFighter John Aldi. John was hired as a Waterbury FireFighter
in the late sixties, and served for about five years before
becoming a postman. Calling hours for John will be held on
Monday August 4, 2003 5-8PM at Chase Parkway Memorial/Albini
Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held for John on Tuesday
August 5, 2003 10AM at St. Pius X Church in Wolcott followed
by a burial at Old Calvary Cemetery.
8/1/03 Line of Duty Death - Statesville, NC
Our condolences to the Jones family, the Cool Springs Volunteer
Fire Department, and the Iredell County Rescue Squad of North
Carolina. FireFighter/EMT Lieutenant Randy Jones, 23, a 6 year
veteran of the Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department and Iredell
County Rescue Squad died Monday July 28, 2003. Randy was
responding to a structure fire in his personal vehicle with another
firefighter when he lost control of the pickup truck rolling it
several times. Both men were ejected. Randy was airlifted to
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem where he
was pronounced dead. The other firefighter suffered internal
injuries and was hospitalized and released days later.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Randy Jones Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
