Firefighter Fatality

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Donald L. Jones

Rank: Captain

Age: 56

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 31

Date of Incident: 03/19/2012

Time of Incident: 2230hrs

Date of Death: 03/19/2012

Fire Department: Jacksonville Fire Department

Address: 900 N Redmond RD, Jacksonville, AR 72076-3623

Fire Department Chief: John Vanderhoof

Incident Description: Captain Jones responded with fire and police to a single-vehicle accident that involved a damaged gas main. While working to clear the scene of the accident, a second motor vehicle reportedly accelerated and veered off of the road striking two firefighters and a police officer.  Captain Jones was killed upon impact. The police officer and second firefighter were both transported by air to the hospital and are reported to be in critical but stable condition. The driver of the second vehicle has been charged with 2nd degree murder and two counts of criminal intent to commit 2nd degree murder given that, according to witnesses, this person allegedly did not try to stop.

Incident Location: 8400 block of Highway 161 South, Jacksonville, AR

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Captain Donald L. Jones at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 21 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm