Emergency Traffic

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.

Late in the evening of Nov 6 2024, Houston fire responded to a report of a fire in a old commercial structure,, fire was through the roof, defensive fire conditions. within 7 minutes of arrival a wall collapsed on the RIT crew while softening the door. Please listen and learn more about this incident.

During the devastating Cedar Fire in San Diego County in Oct of 2003, One of the largest WUI fires to date, with 6000 firefighters engaged, which resulted in 15 deaths and destroyed 2820 structures. One FF died and several others were injured performing structure protection activities. Please listen as we review the official NIOSH report and learn about this WUI LODD.

On Oct 17 of 2021 a Montreal Firefighter drowned during a water rescue operation at night in swift water. This incident was similar to another water rescue capsize in 2010 the same agency suffered. Please listen and learn more, this was a High Risk-Low Frequency incident where situation awareness was impaired.

In September of 2024 an intermodal container (Sea Can) exploded and killed a Battalion Chief when the tractor unit hauling it caught fire on a local highway during suppression efforts. Please join us to learn about this relatively unknown hazard to firefighters from Inter Modal containers, the second LODD I know of from these in recent history.

In September of 2016 a gas leak at a house coincidentally beings used as a grow op lab, exploded, killing Battalion Chief Fahy of the FDNY. Please join Doug, Denys and I to learn more.

In the evening of August 2007, Boston Fire was called to a fire in a local restaurant and found a fire in the kitchen ceiling. The rapidly escalating incident claimed the lives of two firefighters. Please join me and my co-hosts Doug and Denys to listen and learn more about this double LODD.

In July of 2009 a firefighter from the Scottish Fire Service died after becoming disoriented and trapped, running out of air during a complex firefight in a local Pub with apartments above. During the fire numerous rescues were performed with portable and aerial ladders due to the smoke filled hallway and single stairway. Insufficient staffing, a well involved cellar fire and lack of pre-plans and...

In July of 2010 a large fire at a rural industrial food production facility in rural Texas, resulted in the death of a 30yr old Captain. Lack of fire suppression systems, water supplies, pre-planning and Incident command were contributing factors.

Short episode for the end of June, a rare solo recording. In June of 2011 a Muncie Indiana firefighter was killed and several others injured when the roof of a rural church collapsed during the firefight, with limited water supplies and personnel.