Firefighter Fatality

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Chance Zobel

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 3

Date of Incident: 11/13/2010

Time of Incident: 1415hrs

Date of Death: 11/13/2010

Fire Department: Columbia Fire Department

Address:

1800 Laurel ST, Columbia, SC 29201-2627

Fire Department Chief: Aubrey Jenkins

Fire Department Website: http://www.columbiasc.net/fire

Incident Description: Firefighter Zobel was killed and another firefighter was seriously injured when they were struck by a motor vehicle while working a median fire on Interstate 20. Initial reports indicate that two vehicles were approaching the scene from behind. One vehicle slammed into the rear of the other, which had slowed or stopped, pushing it into a small gap between the fire apparatus and the guardrail, striking both, and also striking the two firefighters.

Incident Location: I-20 near

Clemson Road

(near mile marker 81)

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Chance Zobel at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 76 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2010; 74 from incidents that occurred in 2010 and 2 from previous year incidents.  Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm.