List of New Zealand firefighters killed in the line of duty

Last updated

This is a list of New Zealand Firefighters killed in the line of duty. As of 2020, 66 firefighters have been killed, of which 23 have died while responding to an incident, 35 at incidents, and another 8 during training or routine tasks. There have been four instances of multiple fatality incidents, on 19 January 1921, 10 December 1949, 30 November 2011 and 13 February 2023.

Most of the deaths are attributed to either vehicle accidents, or physical collapse.

Firefighters

  shaded rows denotes when firefighters were killed in the same incident.

RankNameBrigadeDateCircumstanceNotes
Qualified FirefighterCraig StevensMuriwai16 February 2023Died of injuries from a landslide which collapsed a house that he and another firefighter were investigating for flood damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. [1]
Station OfficerDave van ZwanenbergMuriwaic.13 February 2023Killed when the house that he and another firefighter were investigating for flood damage collapsed due to a landslide. [2]
PilotSteve Askin14 February 2017Killed in helicopter crash while undertaking monsoon operations on Port Hills Fire [3]
RangerWilliam MacraeDepartment of Conservation30 November 2011Killed when Helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on Karikari Peninsula [4]
PilotJohn Edwin de RidderKerikeri30 November 2011Killed when Helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on Karikari Peninsula
FirefighterBarry KeenWillowby8 April 2009Killed after being hit by a falling branch [5]
FirefighterRay BarrettHicks Bay28 December 2008Fire truck rolled while responding to a car crash. [6]
Senior Station OfficerDerek LovellHamilton6 April 2008Killed during Tamahere Coolstore incident [6] [7]
Operational Support Station OfficerKen BroughamRangiora23 April 2006Collapsed while responding to a call-out [8]
FirefighterRoly WebbWaipukurau23 March 2005Collapsed while attending a car fire [9]
Chief Fire OfficerDavid Ashton NeilTirau1 June 2002Killed in motor vehicle accident responding to an incident [10]
FirefighterGrant JuddFoxton Beach17 June 2001Killed when the appliance he was travelling in lost traction on a slippery road surface and rolled over [6]
Senior FirefighterMurray Charles BoydAkaroa1 February 2001Collapsed during Breathing Apparatus training [6]
FirefighterKieran O'HanlonMorrinsville19 March 2000A 17-year-old firefighter killed when the water tanker he was a passenger in crashed down a bank on the way to a scrub fire. [6]
FirefighterBenjamin Payne RNZAF Ohakea 6 June 1999Killed in motor vehicle accident while on duty [11] [12]
Fire OfficerPaul GableMosgiel6 May 1999Collapsed during a training session [6]
John ReesinkKumeu3 June 1998Collapsed while attending an MVA [10]
Chief Fire OfficerJim MeasuresWaihi19 May 1998Collapsed in the fire appliance responding to a logging truck accident [6]
David SloanWaipukurau21 January 1996 [10]
FirefighterJames HughesAuckland9 July 1994Killed by a drunken driver whilst operation the pump at the scene of another motor vehicle accident on an Auckland Motorway [6]
Chief Fire OfficerJim JamiesonWaitarere24 November 1993Collapsed at home following a brigade exercise [6]
Station OfficerJohn AgnewWoodville7 July 1993Died after the appliance he was driving left a narrow rural road and rolled down a steep bank after attending a small fire [6]
Trainee FirefighterJohn ScottAuckland3 May 1989Collapsed during a BA training exercise [6]
John William SuperPortobello13 December 1986Died at the scene of a fire [6]
Senior Station OfficerGeorge James OliverTwizel3 October 1981Struck by competition box propelled by gale-force winds [6]
Deputy CaptainJohn FordyceWellington22 June 1975Collapsed at training [6]
FiremanWilliam RobinsonFoxton20 January 1969Struck by a car while responding to the station on his bicycle [6]
Chief Fire OfficerMatthew MortonWanganui19 February 1968Collapsed while attending a house fire [6]
Chief Fire OfficerJack Wilkin MorrissCambridge24 November 1965Collapsed after leaving a smoke filled room at a house fire [6]
Senior Station OfficerErnest John PowellChristchurch11 January 1965Collapsed at a scrub fire [6]
FiremanIrvin HeppinstallCambridge29 November 1964Collapsed during training [6]
Senior FiremanNoel MathiesonAuckland28 July 1963Collapsed at a house fire [6]
FiremanRobert CoxTawa16 September 1963Fell from a moving appliance [6]
FiremanThomas McCambridgeInvercargill20 January 1959Collapsed while involved in the rescue of three council workers overcome by fumes when working in an artesian bore, none of whom survived [6] [13]
Senior FiremanWilliam StrongChristchurch10 July 1957Collapsed on the road outside a burning timber factory [6]
Deputy Chief Fire OfficerLenorad GoodmanNew Plymouth18 May 1957Became trapped in a burning basement and an attempted rescue was unsuccessful [6]
Senior ForemanWilliam GriffenGisborne12 October 1955Collapsed while en route to a fire call [6]
FiremanLeslie NewmanManaia4 October 1955Killed when the appliance left the road and rolled while being taken on a routine run [6]
FiremanJames Edwin WatersKaitangata29 September 1955Collapsed while attending a fire [6]
FiremanAlbert ClarkAuckland10 December 1949Killed when the appliance they were riding, whilst responding to a shed fire, collided with a telegraph pole and capsized [6]
FiremanGeorge L. OliverAuckland10 December 1949Killed when the appliance they were riding, whilst responding to a shed fire, collided with a telegraph pole and capsized [6]
Station OfficerErnest HerringAuckland17 September 1947Collapsed whilst in command at a furniture factory fire [6]
FiremanVictor HugoAuckland2 March 1945Killed when the appliance he was driving collided with a two—ton truck [6]
FiremanJim WintonWellington5 November 1944One of four firefighters overcome by carbon monoxide while fighting an industrial fire, and died in hospital four days later [6]
FiremanEric BrightAuckland15 November 1943Trapped in a ship when he could not find his exit route after the fire flared up [6]
FiremanWilliam MolloyBluff25 October 1938Electrocuted while attending a fire at two shops [14]
ForemanAlexander HirdWanganui1 January 1931Collapsed while attending a house fire [6]
FiremanRoland BeuthAuckland2 April 1928During a fire at the Winston Oil and Petrol Store petrol drums exploded and hurtled through the air, one landing close to Fireman Beuth's crew, engulfing them in flames. Fireman Beuth died the following day [6]
FiremanA. C. AllanNew Plymouth24 September 1926Collapsed while attending a paintshop fire [6]
Station OfficerJoshua NoblettChristchurch15 June 1925Pinned under an appliance that was overturned following a collision with a car en route to a car fire [6]
Deputy SuperintendentJules Emil LeScelleDevonport4 April 1924Truck crashed on Calliope Road on its way to a call, which turned out to be a malicious false alarm. Two other firemen and a local constable were seriously injured. [6]
FiremanHerbert GrahamHamilton19 January 1921Killed when the appliance they were responding rolled after attempting to avoid an oncoming truck which would not give way [6]
FiremanGeorge PrinceHamilton19 January 1921Killed when the appliance they were responding rolled after attempting to avoid an oncoming truck which would not give way [6]
FiremanRobert BaxterDunedin16 May 1918Killed whilst responding to what turned out to be a false alarm when the appliance lost traction on a greasy surface and flipped onto its side [6] [15]
FiremanMichael DonnellyNapier28 May 1917Died from burns sustained from the Te Anau Steamer Ship fire [16] [17] [18]
FiremanRichard Henry RidingsDevonport26 December 1913Died at a large fire at Clarence Street in Devonport. He collapsed and died of stroke while working the standpipe. [6]
Third OfficerWilliam Robert Mclean-FieldWellington14 April 1912Electrocuted after a ladder came into contact with high-tension wires at an inner-city fire [6] [19] [20]
FiremanDouglas WilliamsonFeilding5 October 1909Died from injuries sustained from falling debris at the Hastie's Hotel Fire [21] [22] [23]
FiremanArnold GladdingAuckland23 July 1904One of three firefighters injuring by a collapsing brick wall at a large warehouse fire [6]
CustodianGeorge ParkerNew Plymouth16 November 1902Died from a tetanus infection after stepping on a nail while battling a blaze [6]
FiremanBenjamin BerryChristchurch16 February 1901Slipped and fell under the back wheels of a responding appliance after trying unsuccessfully to board it [6]
EngineerWilliam AbbottChristchurch6 October 1900Collapsed while driving an appliance to a fire [24]
Senior ForemanJames LawrenceWellington10 May 1898Died from injuries sustained when his appliance collided with a steam roller en route to a fire [25]
FiremanSkakesleyDunedin17 October 1894Collapsed while fighting a fire aboard the Mararoa Ship, Dunedin Port [26]
FiremanRobersonDunedin10 May 1883 [12]
Assistant EngineerAlfred HillierChristchurch3 August 1883Thrown from a turning appliance en route to an alarm on 29 July. [6] [27]
FiremanWilliam GodwinAuckland3 January 1878Died from injuries in an accident at the fire that broke out at the Rising Sun Hotel on Karangahape Road [28]
FiremanJohn GuilfordWellington22 August 1872Slipped and broke his back while fighting a ship fire, and died shortly after from his injuries [6] [29]

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References

  1. ↑ "Second firefighter caught in Muriwai landslide has died, Fire and Emergency says". Radio New Zealand. 16 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Cyclone Gabrielle: Missing Muriwai firefighter Dave van Zwanenberg is a hero local vet". The New Zealand Herald . 14 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Hundreds farewell pilot killed in Port Hills crash". RNZ . 20 February 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Second chopper crash victim named". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Hundreds come to send off Willowby farmer, firefighter". Stuff . 15 April 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 "United Fire Brigades' Association Line of Duty Deaths" (PDF). United Fire Brigades' Association. 26 February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Obituaries – Derek Lovell – New Zealand Parliament" . Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Volunteer fire officer dies at emergency". The New Zealand Herald . 23 April 2006. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Firefighter dies at scene of car blaze". The New Zealand Herald . 23 March 2005. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 9/11 Remembrance , retrieved 12 September 2019
  11. ↑ "UFBA 1999 – 2000 Obituary List" (PDF). Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. 1 2 "LIVE STREAM : 2018 Fire and Emergency NZ 9/11 Ceremony and Stair Climb". youtube.com. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  13. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19590121.2.127 [ bare URL ]
  14. ↑ "A FATAL FIRE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  15. ↑ martin.johnston@nzherald.co.nz @MartinJohnston6, Martin Johnston Senior journalist, NZ Herald (14 June 2018). "The H Files: Ruse led to fireman's death". The New Zealand Herald . ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 19 April 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New. "Papers Past | ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. (Wanganui Chronicle, 5 June 1917)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  17. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New. "Papers Past | THE TE ANAU FIRE. (Hastings Standard, 20 June 1917)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New. "Papers Past | A FIREMAN'S DEATH (Evening Post, 5 June 1917)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  19. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (16 April 1912). "Papers Past | Death of a Fireman. (Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., 16 April 1912)". Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate. p. 5. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  20. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (18 May 1914). "Papers Past | OTHER FATAL FIRES. (Dominion, 18 May 1914)". Dominion. p. 6. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  21. ↑ "FATAL FIRE AT FEILDING". Manawatu Herald. 5 October 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "THE TRAGEDY OF THE FIRE". Wanganui Chronicle. 6 October 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "FATAL FIRE AT FEILDING". Dominion. 5 October 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  24. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (8 October 1900). "Papers Past | Accidents and Fatalities. (Taranaki Herald, 8 October 1900)". Taranaki Herald . p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  25. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (3 October 1898). "Papers Past | OBITUARY. (New Zealand Times, 3 October 1898)". New Zealand Times. p. 3. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  26. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (17 October 1894). "Papers Past | FIRE ON THE MARAROA (Star, 17 October 1894)". Star (Christchurch). p. 3. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  27. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (3 August 1883). "Papers Past | Death of fireman Hillier. (Star, 3 August 1883)". Star (Christchurch). p. 3. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  28. ↑ Inc., STQRY. "William Godwin – Discover – STQRY". discover.stqry.com. Retrieved 28 November 2018.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. ↑ Zealand, National Library of New (23 August 1872). "Papers Past | THE SOUTH. (New Zealand Herald, 23 August 1872)". New Zealand Herald . p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
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