Emergency Traffic

In October of 2000, Newark fire crews responded to a working chimney/structure fire in a single family home. Several factors such as minimal staffing, communications, building construction and wind, impacted firefighting efforts resulting in burn injuries to several FF's and an assistant Chief. This was a close thing to avoid LODD. Please join me, Doug and Denys to learn more about this incide...

During an introductory rope rescue training class, a firefighter fell off a rope during clean up after the training, falling less than 10 feet and succumbed to fatal injuries. PPE, Instructor to student ratios and lack of a safety officer were all factors in this tragic training incident. Please join us to learn more about this LODD.

In October of 2023, Baltimore firefighters responded to a working fire at an occupied row house. While firefighters entered the first floor, fire from the burning back porch extended into the first floor living area trapping two firefighters in a rapidly growing fire, overwhelming the crew resulting in a rescue and subsequent fatal injuries, due in part to the failure of the PPE and "older&qu...

In September of 2001, two firefighters were assigned the role of "victims" during a live fire training evolution, in an acquired structure. Tragically one died and two others were injured, due in part to actions taken and lack of preparedness for the training drill. Please join us to learn about this preventable LODD.

In September 2025, Dekalb Cnty. GA Firefighters responded to a local warehouse for reports of a fire from neighbours. Upon arrival, crews found a working fire in a warehouse converted to a film studio. Challenging fire conditions, wind, water supplies and many other issues contributed to the LODD of a firefighter that became separated and disoriented during the firefight. Please join us to learn a...

In August 2011 Dallas TX firefighters responded to a fire in a local apartment building. During the firefight, working to extinguish fire extension into the large attic, a ventilation crew firefighter fell through the roof decking. Please join Dennis, Denys and I to learn more about this tragic incident to honour and learn more about this LODD.

During an August evening in 2014, the New Carlisle IN Fire Department responded to a nearby Septic and landscaping company just outside of town. They discovered a storage building with offices on fire. During the defensive firefight, an Assistant Chief was killed and another FF injured when the building collapsed. Please join us to listen and learn about this incident that could happen almost anyw...

On July 28, 2011 Asheville, NC fire department was called for a fire at a 6 story local medical practice building, this building had been the subject of dozens of false alarms in the previous 30days..During the firefight on the top floor, a captain died in the line of duty and nine other firefighters were injured. Please join Doug, Denys and I to learn more about this tragic fire and how to potent...

In July of 2023 two Newark NJ firefighters died during a protracted firefight on a Ship in the port of Newark. This fire was in a complex unfamiliar environment for the un prepared shore based firefighters, which resulted in these deaths and the eventual abandonment of the ship, to be extinguished days later by a marine firefighting company. Please join us as we review and discuss this tragic inci...

Wow, episode 100 of the Emergency Traffic Podcast! Thank you everyone for listening to us review and discuss these Line Of Duty Deaths to honour the dead by learning from these tragedies'. The Chernobyl Firefighters, as a result of the initial firefighting efforts in April 1986, most of the them died from radiation injuries within a month. This is their story. Please join Denys and me as we di...

In June of 2016 a Honolulu HI firefighter was killed during routine Surf Water Rescue training while using a Water Rescue Craft (RWC) (Jet ski), this tragic incident has many lessons that could apply to any technical or water rescue training evolutions and shares activities we found similar to other on water LODDs. Please join Denys and me as we review this NIOSH NFFFP report.

In May 2023, Irma SC Fire district responded to an automatic aid request to the Columbia-Richland Fire Dept, for an apartment building fire. At a complex that had suffered several destructive fires in prior years. During the confused firefight, part of the building collapsed resulting in several entrapments, one resulting in the death of firefighter James Muller. Please Join Denys and I to near mo...

Episode #98, (no you are not losing your mind, the recording order got mixed up, so 98 is before 97) apologies. This episode from May 2013 where a Dallas TX firefighter is killed and others injured when a chief ordered a late repeated search of the first floor apartments after a fourth alarm and while seven aerial master streams were flowing water, resulting in building collapse. Lots of unanswere...

In April of 2016, a young Pineville NC firefighter died during a firefight in a local golf store at a local mall that caught fire from a suspected lighting strike. This is another "it could happen anywhere" incident. Beware of residential tactics in Commercial occupancies! Numerous lessons identified in this typical suburban fire call. Please join us to learn more.

On a windy spring day in late April of 2022, an FDNY firefighter was killed due to a rapid fire progression event on the second floor of the adjoining structure/exposure. We review the FDNY report. This incident has many similarities with several other residential LODD incidents we have covered before; episodes #45 Berwick ME, #71 Evanston WY, and #92 Winnipeg MB. Please join, Denys, Doug and I to...

In March of 2008 Los Angeles city firefighters were called to a utility manhole explosion, then several more, a few minutes later a nearby structure fire was called in. While forcing entry to investigate to smoke on the structure, one firefighter was killed and another injured. Please join us to learn more about this incident.

Warning, Long episode! In March of 2008, Salisbury NC firefighters responded to an early morning fire in the office basement in a local Millwork plant, where wooden cabinetry products were manufactured. Over an hour into the incident, tragedy struck, a rapid fire event occurred and two firefighters were killed and several other injured. Please join us to learn more about this incident from the NIO...

In February of 2007, on Super Bowl Sunday, Winnipeg firefighters responded to a report of fire in a residential garage. a few minutes after arrival five firefighters were caught in rapid fire extension event, killing two firefighters and injuring several others. One of the surviving Firefighters, Captain Lionel Crowther joins us to tell the story. Its not over the day after. Please listen and lear...

Late on a February evening, the Los Angeles City Fire Department was called to a newly built mansion home in the Hollywood Hills. Fire crews found a fire on an exterior wall of the building that stubbornly extended up the wall and into the roof. About thirty minutes later, an interior collapse occurred and resulted in the death of a firefighter. Please listen to learn more about this common type o...

On a cold January 1961 morning, Chicago Firefighters battled a deep seated fire in a commercial mill/warehouse that went to five alarms, while another five alarm fire was occurring on the North side. Tragically 9 firefighters died when some walls collapsed. at the Hubbard Street fire. Step back to the 1960's with us in the significant incident.

On January 6, 2025, a Honolulu firefighter died in the first few minutes of a firefight in an very old, converted multifamily home during a search above the fire, before hose lines had controlled the fire on the first floor. Please listen and learn more.

Early on the morning of January 5 2019, Clinton Iowa firefighters responded to a call of an industrial Silo on fire at a local agricultural processing facility. A few hours later an explosion occurred and killed one lieutenant and critically injured another firefighter while they were fighting the unique fire. Please listen and learn about silo fires.

Happy New Year, this is the last episode of Season four, episode #87 where we revisit the 2011 LODD of FF James Rice, in Peabody MA, where a firefighter became lost during a firefight in a converted multifamily building. Please join us to learn valuable lessons from this tragic avoidable incident.

In December of 2021, Chicago firefighters responded to a typical bread and butter fire in a three apartment older home. Conditions changed drastically when the rear door was opened and then an SCBA malfunction caused a Mayday. Please listen and learn more.

In November of 2007 four firefighters died during a firefight in a large unfinished warehouse, in Warwickshire UK. Another case of residential tactics used in a commercial structure, Command issues, lack of water, training inadequacies and lack of code and preplans. Command officers were tried and acquitted of manslaughter in the aftermath.