Firefighter Fatalities

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

 

Name: Brett Fulton

Rank: Forest Ranger

Age: 52

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 12

Date of Incident: 06/20/2011

Time of Incident: Pending

Date of Death: 06/20/2011

 

Name: Josh Burch

Rank: Forest Ranger

Age: 31

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 10+

Date of Incident: 06/20/2011

Time of Incident: Pending

Date of Death: 06/20/2011

 

Fire Department: Suwannee Forestry Center, Florida Division of Forestry

Address: 137 SE Forestry Circle, Lake City, FL 32025

Fire Department Chief: Sam Leneave, Manager

Fire Department Website: http://www.fl-dof.com/field_operations/suwannee.html

Incident Description: Forest Rangers Fulton and Burch were killed when their position was overrun by flames while conducting tractor plow operations on the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County, Florida.

Two other firefighters – Robert Marvin and Stephen Carpenter – were injured while attempting to assist their fellow firefighters.  Both were treated for smoke-related injuries and released from the hospital.

Investigation into the fatal incident continues by the Florida Division of Forestry and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement.

Incident Location: Vicinity of County Road 6, Hamilton County, FL

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Forest Ranger Brett Fulton and Forest Ranger Josh Burch at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 44 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 40 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and four from previous years’ 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.