FireLink

Here is the link to the USFA site and the LODD's for this year so far....

https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/ffmem/ffmem_results.jsp?p_mn_status=1&p_last_name=&p_first_name=&p_fd_city=&p_fd_state_code=&p_death_year=2008

May you all be blessed and be at peace.  It is heroes like you all who inspire people like me to become firefighters.

Thanks.  He will be in my prayers tonight.  Those that have gone before are the ones that have inspired me and have brought me into the firefighting life.  God bless them and their families.

5-22-08:   Aston-Beechwood, Penn. Fire Company Chief Raymond "Rocky" Eusden died while on duty on May 19, according to the Web site FirefighterCloseCalls.com. According to the Web site, Chief Eusden, 57, was working on a fire apparatus when he experienced a medical emergency. He went into his office, sat down and told a firefighter he wasn't feeling well. The firefighter called in paramedics in the station and they transported the chief to Crozer Chester Medical Center with stroke-like symptoms. He later succumbed to his illness a day later.Chief Eusden was a member of the fire company for 41 years and would have celebrated his 58th birthday this coming Memorial Day.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

This one has not made the list on the USAF site yet. However I found the death on http://www.firehouse.com  .

Indiana Firefighter Dies After Battling Arsons.   Firehouse.Com News ..

This story is also on the home page of firelink.

Hours after battling a series of arson fires, Eaton, Ind. Firefighter Jay C. Maddy died on May 23, according to a statement by the volunteer fire company. He was rushed to Ball Memorial Hospital around 11 p.m. on Friday, approximately 16 hours after the fires occurred. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A juvenile and an 18-year-old male have since been arrested in connection with the 17 fires set on May 22.

Maddy leaves behind a wife and two children.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

 Thoughts and prayers to the family.

STILLWATER, Oklahoma. Russell Thomas Topping 28, passed away Saturday May 31,2008. At approximately 1845hrs, shortly after he finished a live fire training exercise at the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training Center, Firefighter Topping was found collapsed and unresponsive by other firefighters who immediately began to administer CPR. Topping was transported to the Stillwater Medical Center; all efforts to revive Firefighter Topping were unsuccessful. The cause and nature of the fatal injury are still to be reported.

Bless you and your family. R.I.P.

I saw the video. May they all R.I.P.and may their families be blessed. Of course this is the place to put the link. Thank you very much for sharing.

Unforunately I have a new LODD to report.

Colin Gene Thomas, 51 of Jacksonville,NC passed away on 6/14/08.

Second Assistant Chief Thomas passed away from injuries sustained when he was struck by a semi tractor-trailer on a stretch of US Highway 17 adjacent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Camp Lejeune contacted the Sheriff's office shortly before 0500 hrs requesting assistance with traffic control because of extreme low visibility conditions on the roadway due to smoke from a controlled burn on the Base combining with fog. Thomas, along with Onslow County Deputy Sheriff Steven Boehm, 36, who was also struck and killed by the tractor-trailer, had been directing traffic when a series of 8 vehicle collisions took place in the northbound travel lanes of the highway. Chief Thomas, Boehm and others heard and responded to calls for help, searching through the fog and smoke when unfortunately they were struck by the tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer then struck several other vehicles sending another deputy to the hospital; he was later released.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

I am sad to report there is another LODD. George E. Crocker, 32, Fire Chief of Pine Level Volunteer Fire Department passed away on 6/22/08. Fire Chief Crocker was found deceased in bed the morning of 06/22/2008. Within the previous 24hrs, Chief Crocker responded to one mutual aid fire and three EMS calls. The cause of Chief Crocker's death is still to be reported.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Sad to report yet another LODD. Captain Gary L. Studer, 61 of Whitehouse Ohio, passed away on 6/28/08. While working at the Whitehouse fire station, Captain Studer's partner found him unconscious at 0130hrs in his bunk on 6/20/2008. He was transported to St. Luke's Hospital where he died on 6/28/08 due to complications related to a stroke.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Robert Roland 63, of Boonville California passed away on 7/3/08. Firefighter Roland was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center after he became fatigued and short of breath while helping to lay water hoses at the Oso fire near Philo. Roland passed away in the Intensive Care Unit from a cause still to be reported at 0400hrs the following morning.

Blessings and prayers to the family.

Sad to report 2 more LODD's.

On 7/7/08 Richard L. Kear, 58, of Harpster OH passed away. Firefighter Kear was operating a fire department engine enroute to a vehicle fire when for a reason still under investigation by state police, the apparatus left the roadway and crashed. Kear was ejected from the vehicle and seriously injured. Another firefighter onboard the apparatus reportedly crawled out of the engine and began first aid until EMS units arrived. Firefighter Kear was airlifted to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.

On 7/8/08 Ryan T. Barker, 25. of Elmira NY passed. Firefighter Barker was operating fire apparatus and returning from a propane gas-grill fire, with exposures, that had been successfully mitigated. As the apparatus came down a hill on West Hill Road A, at approximately 3,550 linear and 270 vertical feet from the crest, it came into a left-hand zigzag curve where the apparatus left the right side of the roadway coming to its final resting position having struck one or more trees. Barker was reported to have been ejected from the vehicle. The cab area of the apparatus was heavily damaged; the water tank separated from the vehicle and was several feet further down the road in the opposite lane of travel. Firefighter Barker, the only department member onboard the apparatus, was transported by Erway Ambulance to Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira but did not survive his injuries. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Chemung County Sheriff's Office.

Prayers and blessings to each of their families.