Why Firefighter Die

Voices From the Past … Why Firefighters Die

It is absolutely possible to be doing everything right and still get killed in the line of duty. In a

calling that is inherently hazardous, there are risks that cannot be engineered out of the equation.

Circumstances beyond the control of any firefighter, company officer, incident commander or

Fire Chief can result in the most catastrophic outcome. However, all too often, those risks and

circumstances are completely within our control. We can do more to reduce preventable deaths

wherever possible. Killing firefighters the same ways over and over again betrays their sacrifice.

This course will explore culture in the fire service, learn lessons from our past, and define a path

forward that is respectful of our history without being bound by it. Participants will learn,

through case studies, about the concept of Normalization of Deviance and how it claims the lives

of firefighters through completely avoidable circumstances. Being a firefighter is dangerous, but

it doesn’t have to be deadly. Discussions about leadership, accountability, responsibility, and

integrity are included in the framework of protecting and preserving all that is good about our

fire service.

Matthew Tobia is the Fire Chief with the City of Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department and is a 38-

year student of emergency services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University

of Maryland Baltimore County and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the

National Fire Academy. Matt served as a member of the Editorial Board for Fire-Rescue

Magazine and has authored over 120 articles. He is also the former chair of the IAFC’s Safety,

Health and Survival Section, holds the Chief Fire Officer credential and is a member of the

Institute of Fire Engineers. Chief Tobia has served as a contributor to NIOSH Firefighter Fatality

Investigation reports and has participated as a member of several near-miss, serious injury, and

fatality investigation teams. Prior to Harrisonburg, Chief Tobia spent 23 years with the Anne

Arundel County (MD) Fire Department and four years with Loudoun County (VA) Fire Rescue.

Matt began volunteering in south central Pennsylvania in 1987 and is active with the National

Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Mid Atlantic Burn Camp for Children.