2004 Line Of Duty Deaths

2. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths

3. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths United States Fire Administration Despite continued advances in firefighting equipment, Incident Command System training, operations and safety training and improved communications, 117 firefighters died in the line of duty in the United States in 2004.

4. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

5. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

6. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

7. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

8. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

9. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

10. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

11. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

12. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty (20) firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

13. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004: • Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 36 deaths. • Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 81 deaths. • Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries. The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters. • Nine (9) firefighters died in 2004 in response to wildland fires (grass, trees, brush). • Three (3) firefighters were killed when fire apparatus were backed over them. • Five (5) firefighters were killed when struck by passing vehicles at the scene of an emergency. • Four (4) firefighters were killed in falls from fire department vehicles. • One (1) firefighter was shot and killed as she approached an emergency that involved domestic violence. • Twenty (20) firefighters died in vehicle collisions. • Seven (7) of these deaths involved the crash of the firefighter's personal vehicle. • Three (3) firefighters died in aircraft crashes. • Five (5) firefighters died in crashes that involved responding fire apparatus. • The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47. The average age of a firefighter that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52; the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

14. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Classification Career 36 Wild land Full-Time 4 Part-Time (Paid) 2 Paid-on-Call 2 Volunteer 68 Wild land Part-Time 2 Wild land Contract 3 Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 3 Wild land Firefighter Fatalities: 20

15. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Type of Duty Responding 17 Training 13 On-Scene Fire 30 On-Scene Non-Fire 11 After 23 Other On-Duty 18 Returning 5 Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 68.3% Number of firefighter fatalities associated with suspicious / arson fires: 3

16. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Type of Incident Wild land 14 Structure Fire 31 MVA 12 Hazmat 2 Vehicle Fire 3 EMS 7 Outside Fire 1 False Alarm 3 Not Incident Related 31 Other 12 Unknown 1

17. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Cause of Fatal Injury Caught/Trapped 7 Fall 4 Stress / Overexertion 66 Exposure 1 Collapse 6 Struck by 10 Vehicle Collision 21 Lost 1 Other 1

18. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Nature of Fatal Injury Asphyxiation 8 Fall 1 Crushed 7 Burns 2 CVA 2 Trauma 29 Drowning 2 Heart Attack 61 Other 3

19. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained Under 21 6 21 to 25 4 26 to 30 2 31 to 40 13 41 to 50 29 51 to 60 31 61 and Over 22 Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40 -24.8%

20. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Type of Activity Search & Rescue 5 Setup 1 Incident Command 4 Advance Hose Lines 14 Standby 3 Ventilation 1 Responding 17 Support 2 Pump Ops 1 Water Supply 2 Scene Safety 7 Not Incident Related 23 Not On Scene 14 Other 4 EMS/Patient Care 4 Unknown 15

21. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Time of Fatal Injury 0100-0259 2 0300-0459 1 0500-0659 4 0700-0859 11 0900-1059 13 1100-1259 7 1300-1459 12 1500-1659 15 1700-1859 20 1900-2059 14 2100-2259 6 2300-0059 6 Unknown 6

22. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Month of the Year January 9 February 11 March 17 April 12 May 7 June 8 July 6 August 11 September 10 October 9 November 7 December 10

23. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Firefighter Fatalities by State of Fire Service Organization 1 Alaska 0.85% 3 Alabama 2.56% 1 Arkansas 0.85% 1 Arizona 0.85% 5 California 4.27% 2 Colorado 1.70% 1 Connecticut 0.85% 5 Florida 4.27% 3 Georgia 2.56% 2 Iowa 1.70% 2 Idaho 1.70% 7 Illinois 5.98% 1 Indiana 0.85% 3 Kansas 2.56% 8 Kentucky 6.83% 1 Louisiana 0.85% 2 Massachusetts 1.70% 2 Maryland 1.70% 1 Michigan 0.85% 4 Missouri 3.41% 3 Mississippi 2.56% 1 Montana 0.85% 3 North Carolina 2.56% 1 North Dakota 0.85% 2 Nebraska 1.70% 1 New Hampshire 0.85% 6 New Jersey 5.12% 1 New Mexico 0.85% 4 New York 3.41% 3 Ohio 2.56% 1 Oklahoma 0.85% 1 Oregon 0.85% 18 Pennsylvania 15.3% 1 Rhode Island 0.85% 4 South Carolina 3.41% 2 Tennessee 1.70% 4 Texas 3.41% 1 Utah 0.85% 2 Virginia 1.70% 1 Washington 0.85% 2 Wisconsin 1.70%

24. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths Firefighter Fatalities by State of Fatal Incident 1 Alaska 0.85% 2 Alabama 1.70% 2 Arkansas 1.70% 2 Arizona 1.70% 5 California 4.27% 2 Colorado 1.70% 1 Connecticut 0.85% 7 Florida 5.98% 3 Georgia 2.56% 2 Iowa 1.70% 1 Idaho 0.85% 6 Illinois 5.12% 1 Indiana 0.85% 3 Kansas 2.56% 8 Kentucky 6.83% 1 Louisiana 0.85% 2 Massachusetts 1.70% 2 Maryland 1.70% 1 Michigan 0.85% 4 Missouri 3.41% 2 Mississippi 1.70% 1 Montana 0.85% 3 North Carolina 2.56% 1 North Dakota 0.85% 2 Nebraska 1.70% 1 New Hampshire 0.85% 6 New Jersey 5.12% 1 New Mexico 0.85% 4 New York 3.41% 3 Ohio 2.56% 1 Oklahoma 0.85% 1 Oregon 0.85% 18 Pennsylvania 15.3% 1 Rhode Island 0.85% 4 South Carolina 3.41% 2 Tennessee 1.70% 4 Texas 3.41% 1 Utah 0.85% 2 Virginia 1.70% 1 Washington 0.85% 2 Wisconsin 1.70%

25. 2004 Line Of Duty Deaths

26. Leslie W. Gant, Jr. Winslow Township Fire Dept. Sicklerville, New Jersey 1/8/2004 Lieutenant Gant had returned to the station after working an accident scene on the Atlantic City Expressway. At the station he complained of dizziness and left to rest at home. His family later took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered a stroke from which he passed away four days later.

27. Richard Allen Jones Maryland Line Fire Protective Association, Inc. Maryland Line, Maryland 1/15/2004  Firefighter Jones had responded to an MVA involving an overturned propane truck. After returning to the station, he went home to sleep. He was found deceased the next morning at home. Probable heart attack.

28. Derrick T. Harvey Philadelphia Fire Department Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1/15/2004 Lieutenant Harvey was seriously injured and burned when he fell through the first floor of a residential structure and was left hanging from the joists over the basement where the fire originated. Other companies initiated rescue efforts and extricated Lt. Derrick from the row house. He was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center via PFD Medic Unit then transferred to Temple University Hospital Burn Unit where he died from injuries received. The Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshall has determined the cause of the fire to be combustibles too close to a fixed heater.

29. Raymond L. Peterman Los Angeles Fire Department California 1/17/2004 Heart attack at brush fire.

30. Charles ‘Charlie’ T. Hatch, Jr. West Bridgewater Fire Dept. West Bridgewater, Massachusetts 1/21/2004

31. Keith Alan Firment Marguerite Volunteer Fire Co. Latrobe, Pennsylvania 1/22/2004 After returning from a structure fire, Captain Firment became ill at home and was taken to the hospital where he died of an apparent heart attack.

32. Kevin M. Shea Elsmere Fire Department Elsmere, New York 1/24/2004  Chief Shea collapsed at the firehouse after returning from an alarm at a local nursing home and subsequently passed away of an apparent heart attack.

33. David Andrew Mackie Orange City Fire Department Orange City, Florida 1/27/2004 Aortic Valve Stenosis while in training.

34. Jean L. Nuckols Norfolk, Virginia 1/31/2004 Firefighter Nuckols died while on-duty at the firehouse of a cause still to be determined. Navy Regional Fire Rescue, Hampton Roads

35. Michael E. Lynch Penrose Volunteer Fire Dept. Penrose, Colorado 2/3/2004 On February 3, 2004 at 1742hrs, the Penrose Volunteer Fire Department was working the scene of a roll-over motor vehicle crash with injuries on Highway 50 near Highway 115. While directing traffic at the scene, Firefighter Lynch was struck by an automobile. While enroute to St. Thomas Moore Hospital in Canon City, Firefighter Lynch died from the injuries he sustained.

36. Glenn Galderisi Wayne, New Jersey 2/4/2004 Firefighter Galderisi died from an apparent heart attack in Fire Company 3's firehouse after re-packing fire hose that shifted during his earlier response to false alarm. Pompton Falls Volunteer Fire Department No. 3

37. Brenda D. Cowan Lexington Fire Department Lexington, Kentucky 2/13/2004 Lt. Cowan was hit and killed by gunfire while responding to an emergency medical assistance call.  

38. Robert E. ’Bobby’ Heminger Wood River, Nebraska 2/15/2004 Captains Heminger and Woitalewicz died as a result of injuries sustained while searching a burning residence for an occupant when the roof collapsed trapping them. Wood River Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department

39. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Heatherman Brisben Fire Department Brisben, New York 2/16/2004  Fire Police Captain Heatherman had returned to the station following a call mutual aid fire call and complained about not feeling well and was returning home to rest. Approximately an hour later Heatherman’s wife called 911 because he was having a heart attack. Attempts by emergency medical personnel to revive Hetherman failed and he was pronounced dead at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center a short time later.

40. Kenneth A. ‘Kenny’ Woitalewicz Wood River, Nebraska 2/17/2004  Captains Woitalewicz and Heminger died as a result of injuries sustained while searching a burning residence for an occupant when the roof collapsed trapping them. Wood River Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department

41. Steve W. Fierro Carthage Fire Department Carthage, Missouri 2/18/2004  Pending Autopsy

42. Elliott Davis, Jr. Gloster Rural Vol. Fire Dept. Gloster, Mississippi 2/22/2004  Fire Commissioner Davis was operating a 1997 GMC C-8500 town-owned fire truck headed to a grass fire. The apparatus, reportedly traveling at an estimated 50 to 55 mph, swerved to avoid oncoming traffic and left the roadway to the right, over-corrected, ran off the roadway to the left, over-corrected a second time, causing the vehicle to roll over due to weight shifting back and forth. The apparatus made three-quarters of a flip and came to rest lying on its passenger side. Davis was partially ejected and died at the scene from massive head trauma. Neither Davis nor another firefighter riding in the apparatus and sent to the hospital for observation were wearing seat belts.  

43. Bret Eugene Neff Harford Fire Department Harford, New York 2/23/2004  Deputy Fire Chief Neff died of severe internal trauma injuries to the abdominal region that he received when while working to fill a 750-gallon portable water pond from a tanker truck, it rolled back, collapsing the nearly full water pond and pinning Neff against another apparatus. According to reports, the tanker driver said he accidentally released the emergency brake as he got out of the vehicle.

44. Richard ‘Rich’ L.  Gabrielli George G. McMurtry Vol. F. D. Vandergrift, Pennsylvania 2/23/2004  While performing fire police functions on the scene of a working fire at the Vandergrift plant of Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, Firefighter Gabrielli collapsed and died from a cause still to be determined.

45. Edward P. ‘Eddie’ Conricote Liberty Township Fire Dept. Youngstown, Ohio 2/23/2004 Firefighter Conricote died from a cause still to be determined while pulling hose off of the back of the apparatus while working a residential structure fire.  

46. Edward 'Eddie' O. Peters Florida Division of Forestry Tallahassee, Florida 3/3/2004  Forest Ranger Peters was killed on his way to conduct a controlled burn when the brush patrol truck he was operating left the roadway and overturned after hitting a culvert and coming to rest on its roof. He was wearing his seatbelt.

47. Mark E. Miller Laconia Fire Department Laconia, New Hampshire 3/11/2004  Firefighter Miller drowned during a training accident while testing new dive suits.

48. Richard A. Stefanakis Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 3/13/2004  Firefighter Stefanakis and Battalion Chief Brace were killed and many others injured when the bell tower of a church collapsed on them while they were inside extinguishing remaining hot spots.

49. Robert Griffin Vol. Fire Dept. of Prospect Prospect, Connecticut 3/13/2004  Probationary Firefighter Griffin died from an apparent heart attack while going through a training house, without the use of live fire, at the Wolcott State Fire School.

50. Mario F. Cunha Soledad Fire Department Soledad, California 3/13/2004 Firefighter Cunha was struck and killed in the roadway by a passing vehicle at the scene of an automobile fire.