Firefighter Fatality

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

Name: Joshua Wilkes

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 5+

Date of Incident: 02/13/2011

Time of Incident: 1600hrs

Date of Death: 02/13/2011

Fire Department: Unity Fire Department

Address: 367 Road 2216, Guntown, MS 38849

Fire Department Chief: Larry Williams

Incident Description: Upon leaving the scene of an outdoor fire and while returning to quarters, Firefighter Wilkes and another firefighter stopped at a convenience store to fill their apparatus with fuel.  After entering the inside of the convenience store, Firefighter Wilkes suffered a medical emergency and passed away.  The nature and cause of Firefighter Wilkes’ injury is still to be determined.

Incident Location: Woco-Saltillo,

189 Mobile ST, Saltillo, MS 38866

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Joshua Wilkes at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 19 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 17 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and two from a previous year’s incident.  Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm.