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List of New Zealand firefighters killed in the line of duty

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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

[edit]

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

Rank Name Brigade Date Circumstance Notes
Qualified Firefighter Craig Stevens Muriwai 16 February 2023 Died of injuries from a landslide which collapsed a house that he and another firefighter were investigating for flood damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. [1]
Station Officer Dave van Zwanenberg Muriwai c.13 February 2023 Killed when the house that he and another firefighter were investigating for flood damage collapsed due to a landslide. [2]
Pilot Steve Askin 14 February 2017 Killed in helicopter crash while undertaking monsoon operations on Port Hills Fire [3]
Ranger William Macrae Department of Conservation 30 November 2011 Killed when Helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on Karikari Peninsula [4]
Pilot John Edwin de Ridder Kerikeri 30 November 2011 Killed when Helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on Karikari Peninsula
Firefighter Barry Keen Willowby 8 April 2009 Killed after being hit by a falling branch [5]
Firefighter Ray Barrett Hicks Bay 28 December 2008 Fire truck rolled while responding to a car crash. [6]
Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell Hamilton 6 April 2008 Killed during Tamahere Coolstore incident [6][7]
Operational Support Station Officer Ken Brougham Rangiora 23 April 2006 Collapsed while responding to a call-out [8]
Firefighter Roly Webb Waipukurau 23 March 2005 Collapsed while attending a car fire [9]
Chief Fire Officer David Ashton Neil Tirau 1 June 2002 Killed in motor vehicle accident responding to an incident [10]
Firefighter Grant Judd Foxton Beach 17 June 2001 Killed when the appliance he was travelling in lost traction on a slippery road surface and rolled over [6]
Senior Firefighter Murray Charles Boyd Akaroa 1 February 2001 Collapsed during Breathing Apparatus training [6]
Firefighter Kieran O'Hanlon Morrinsville 19 March 2000 A 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]
Firefighter Benjamin Payne RNZAF Ohakea 6 June 1999 Killed in motor vehicle accident while on duty [11][12]
Fire Officer Paul Gable Mosgiel 6 May 1999 Collapsed during a training session [6]
John Reesink Kumeu 3 June 1998 Collapsed while attending an MVA [10]
Chief Fire Officer Jim Measures Waihi 19 May 1998 Collapsed in the fire appliance responding to a logging truck accident [6]
David Sloan Waipukurau 21 January 1996 [10]
Firefighter James Hughes Auckland 9 July 1994 Killed by a drunken driver whilst operation the pump at the scene of another motor vehicle accident on an Auckland Motorway [6]
Chief Fire Officer Jim Jamieson Waitarere 24 November 1993 Collapsed at home following a brigade exercise [6]
Station Officer John Agnew Woodville 7 July 1993 Died after the appliance he was driving left a narrow rural road and rolled down a steep bank after attending a small fire [6]
Trainee Firefighter John Scott Auckland 3 May 1989 Collapsed during a BA training exercise [6]
John William Super Portobello 13 December 1986 Died at the scene of a fire [6]
Senior Station Officer George James Oliver Twizel 3 October 1981 Struck by competition box propelled by gale-force winds [6]
Deputy Captain John Fordyce Wellington 22 June 1975 Collapsed at training [6]
Fireman William Robinson Foxton 20 January 1969 Struck by a car while responding to the station on his bicycle [6]
Chief Fire Officer Matthew Morton Wanganui 19 February 1968 Collapsed while attending a house fire [6]
Chief Fire Officer Jack Wilkin Morriss Cambridge 24 November 1965 Collapsed after leaving a smoke filled room at a house fire [6]
Senior Station Officer Ernest John Powell Christchurch 11 January 1965 Collapsed at a scrub fire [6]
Fireman Irvin Heppinstall Cambridge 29 November 1964 Collapsed during training [6]
Senior Fireman Noel Mathieson Auckland 28 July 1963 Collapsed at a house fire [6]
Fireman Robert Cox Tawa 16 September 1963 Fell from a moving appliance [6]
Fireman Thomas McCambridge Invercargill 20 January 1959 Collapsed 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 Fireman William Strong Christchurch 10 July 1957 Collapsed on the road outside a burning timber factory [6]
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Lenorad Goodman New Plymouth 18 May 1957 Became trapped in a burning basement and an attempted rescue was unsuccessful [6]
Senior Foreman William Griffen Gisborne 12 October 1955 Collapsed while en route to a fire call [6]
Fireman Leslie Newman Manaia 4 October 1955 Killed when the appliance left the road and rolled while being taken on a routine run [6]
Fireman James Edwin Waters Kaitangata 29 September 1955 Collapsed while attending a fire [6]
Fireman Albert Clark Auckland 10 December 1949 Killed when the appliance they were riding, whilst responding to a shed fire, collided with a telegraph pole and capsized [6]
Fireman George L. Oliver Auckland 10 December 1949 Killed when the appliance they were riding, whilst responding to a shed fire, collided with a telegraph pole and capsized [6]
Station Officer Ernest Herring Auckland 17 September 1947 Collapsed whilst in command at a furniture factory fire [6]
Fireman Victor Hugo Auckland 2 March 1945 Killed when the appliance he was driving collided with a two—ton truck [6]
Fireman Jim Winton Wellington 5 November 1944 One of four firefighters overcome by carbon monoxide while fighting an industrial fire, and died in hospital four days later [6]
Fireman Eric Bright Auckland 15 November 1943 Trapped in a ship when he could not find his exit route after the fire flared up [6]
Fireman William Molloy Bluff 25 October 1938 Electrocuted while attending a fire at two shops [14]
Foreman Alexander Hird Wanganui 1 January 1931 Collapsed while attending a house fire [6]
Fireman Roland Beuth Auckland 2 April 1928 During 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]
Fireman A. C. Allan New Plymouth 24 September 1926 Collapsed while attending a paintshop fire [6]
Station Officer Joshua Noblett Christchurch 15 June 1925 Pinned under an appliance that was overturned following a collision with a car en route to a car fire [6]
Deputy Superintendent Jules Emil LeScelle Devonport 4 April 1924 Truck 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]
Fireman Herbert Graham Hamilton 19 January 1921 Killed when the appliance they were responding rolled after attempting to avoid an oncoming truck which would not give way [6]
Fireman George Prince Hamilton 19 January 1921 Killed when the appliance they were responding rolled after attempting to avoid an oncoming truck which would not give way [6]
Fireman Robert Baxter Dunedin 16 May 1918 Killed 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]
Fireman Michael Donnelly Napier 28 May 1917 Died from burns sustained from the Te Anau Steamer Ship fire [16][17][18]
Fireman Richard Henry Ridings Devonport 26 December 1913 Died at a large fire at Clarence Street in Devonport. He collapsed and died of stroke while working the standpipe. [6]
Third Officer William Robert Mclean-Field Wellington 14 April 1912 Electrocuted after a ladder came into contact with high-tension wires at an inner-city fire [6][19][20]
Fireman Douglas Williamson Feilding 5 October 1909 Died from injuries sustained from falling debris at the Hastie's Hotel Fire [21][22][23]
Fireman Arnold Gladding Auckland 23 July 1904 One of three firefighters injuring by a collapsing brick wall at a large warehouse fire [6]
Custodian George Parker New Plymouth 16 November 1902 Died from a tetanus infection after stepping on a nail while battling a blaze [6]
Fireman Benjamin Berry Christchurch 16 February 1901 Slipped and fell under the back wheels of a responding appliance after trying unsuccessfully to board it [6]
Engineer William Abbott Christchurch 6 October 1900 Collapsed while driving an appliance to a fire [24]
Senior Foreman James Lawrence Wellington 10 May 1898 Died from injuries sustained when his appliance collided with a steam roller en route to a fire [25]
Fireman Skakesley Dunedin 17 October 1894 Collapsed while fighting a fire aboard the Mararoa Ship, Dunedin Port [26]
Fireman Roberson Dunedin 10 May 1883 [12]
Assistant Engineer Alfred Hillier Christchurch 3 August 1883 Thrown from a turning appliance en route to an alarm on 29 July. [6][27]
Fireman William Godwin Auckland 3 January 1878 Died from injuries in an accident at the fire that broke out at the Rising Sun Hotel on Karangahape Road [28]
Fireman John Guilford Wellington 22 August 1872 Slipped and broke his back while fighting a ship fire, and died shortly after from his injuries [6][29]

References

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  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". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Hundreds come to send off Willowby farmer, firefighter". Stuff. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av "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. ^ a b c 9/11 Remembrance, retrieved 12 September 2019
  11. ^ "UFBA 1999 – 2000 Obituary List" (PDF). Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b "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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