Firefighter Fatality

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

 

Name: Dennis J. Cauthen

Rank: Fire Chief

Age: 54

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 31

Date of Incident: 08/16/2011

Time of Incident: 0245hrs

Date of Death: 08/16/2011

 

Fire Department: Elgin Fire Department

Address: PO Box 1809, 114 Tram RD, Lancaster, SC 29720-9594

Fire Department Chief: Pending

 

Incident Description: Fire Chief Cauthen collapsed at the station and shortly thereafter passed away from a cause still to be determined after returning from fighting an early morning fire at an abandoned residence.

Incident Location: 937 15th Street, Lancaster, SC

 

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Dennis J. Cauthen at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

 

To date, 64 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 59 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and five 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.