Firefighter Fatality

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

Name: Horace C. "Chris" Pendergrass

Rank: Firefighter
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 22
Date of Incident: 10/22/2011
Time of Incident: 0830hrs
Date of Death: 10/22/2011

Fire Department: Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Address: 4100 Chain Bridge RD, Fairfax, VA 22030
Fire Department Chief: Ronald L. Mastin
Fire Department Website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/

Incident Description: Firefighter Pendergrass was discovered deceased in bed by fellow firefighters at shift change, having passed away during the night in his sleep from a cause still to be determined.

Incident Location: Station #41, 9610 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-2813

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Horace C. "Chris" Pendergrass at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/.

To date, 77 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 71 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.