Firefighter Fatality

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

Name: William Akin, Jr.

Rank: Fire Police Captain

Age: 52

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 25+

Date of Incident: 10/19/2010

Time of Incident: 2115hrs

Date of Death: 10/19/2010

Fire Department: Ghent Volunteer Fire Company

Address:

PO Box 32

, 2230 Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075

Fire Department Chief: Walter Engel

Fire Department Website: http://www.ghentfire.org/

Incident Description: Fire Police Captain Akin was operating his privately owned vehicle with emergency lighting in response to a motor vehicle accident. After stopping and clearing his intersection, Akin proceeded across the roadway and struck a telephone pole. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine a cause of death and whether Captain Akin suffered a medical emergency causing the accident.  

Incident Location:

Water Street

and

State Route

66

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Fire Police Captain William Akin, Jr., at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/.

To date, 67 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2010; 65 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.