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The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
(NFFF) and the Department of Homeland
Security's (USDHS, U.S. Fire Administration
(USFA) announce that the 25th annual
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Weekend will be held October 7-8, 2006.
A plaque with the names of 98 firefighters
who died in the line of duty in 2005
will be added to the National Fallen
Firefighters Memorial, located on the
National Fire Academy campus. The names
of six firefighters who died in previous
years will also be added. The plaques
surrounding the Memorial, which was
established in 1981, will contain the
names of more than 3,000 firefighters.
Thirty-three states experienced line-of-duty
deaths in 2005. Deaths resulted from
various causes, including: motor vehicle
accidents while en route to or returning
from emergency calls, training incidents,
building collapses, being struck by
objects (vehicles, trees) at the incident
scene, falls, heart attacks, air tanker
and helicopter crashes, electrocution,
drowning, assault, and burns.
Four multiple fatality incidents accounted
for ten deaths Two multiple fatality
incidents occurred at structural fires
while the other two occurred during
wildland operations. One structural
incident involved an explosion. The
other resulted in two firefighters becoming
trapped. The wildland incidents involved
aircraft crashes.
Wildland fires, controlled burns and
aircraft training/certification for
wildland fire protection resulted in
10 deaths. Six of the firefighters died
while piloting air tankers or helicopters.
Of the firefighters being honored this
year, 63 were volunteer firefighters,
37 were career and 4 were contract firefighters.
New York had the Nation's greatest
number of line-of-duty firefighter deaths
in 2005 with 17; while California, Pennsylvania,
and Texas each had 8 firefighters die
in the line of duty.
Hal Bruno, Chairman of the NFFF Board
of Directors, stated: "Survivors
and members of the fire service travel
from across the country to honor their
loved ones and fallen comrades at the
Memorial Weekend. They receive emotional
support and meet others who suffered
loss. The Foundation's services are
offered to the families and colleagues
of fallen firefighters not only following
a line-of-duty death but for years to
come."
For more information on the Memorial
Weekend, contact the Foundation or visit
www.firehero.org.
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