Firefighter Fatality

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

Name: Kevin E. Townes

Rank: Firefighter
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 25
Date of Incident: 12/08/2011
Time of Incident: 0243hrs
Date of Death: 12/08/2011

Fire Department: Mount Vernon Fire Department

Address: 470 East Lincoln AVE, Mount Vernon, NY 10552
Fire Department Chief: Fire Commissioner Noah Lighty

Incident Description: Firefighter Townes collapsed while operating at the scene of a basement fire in a single family residence. Townes had just donned his protective equipment and was preparing to enter the structure when the medical emergency occurred. Fellow firefighter-paramedics treated Townes at the scene and he was subsequently transported to the Mount Vernon Hospital, where he passed away. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

 Incident Location: 124 Lorraine Ave

Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Kevin E. Townes at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 84 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 78 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and six 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