Incident Name:
Date: 7/24/16, 1346 hours
Personnel: Charles Waterbury
Age: 56
Agency/Organization: Orford Fire Department, 476 NH Route 10, Orford, NH
Position: firefighter
Summary:
Orford Firefighter Charles Waterbury suffered a medical emergency at a brush fire apparently started by lightning in Lyme, NH on 7/24/2016. Firefighter Waterbury who had been operating a pumper when he collapsed, was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from nature of fatal injury still to be determined.
Incident Location: 42 Claflin LN, Lyme, NH (U.S. National Grid: USNG: 18T YP 2970 5063)
{mosmap lat=’43.773114’|lon=’-72.145883’|marker=’0’|text=’Lightning fire location, 42 Claflin LN, Lyme, NH’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- from a transcript of the WMUR 7/25/16 news report:HIT THEM HARD. THIS PHOTO SHOWS CHARLIE WATERBURY NEXT TO A TANKER. IT WAS WHILE HE WAS OPERATING A PUMPING STATION ACCORDING TO LYME FIRE WARDEN THAT CHARLIE WATERBURY COLLAPSED. THE COLLAPSE HAPPENED AS WATERBURY WAS FIGHTING THIS BRUSH FIRE IN LYME. WATERBURY WAS TAKEN TO DARTMOUTH HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. LIGHTING SCARS SEVERAL OF THE TREES WHERE THE FIRE SCORCHED ABOUT ONE AND A HALF ACRES. THE FIRE WARDEN BELIEVES THOSE BOLTS STARTED THE FIRE SMOLDERING ON SATURDAY, AND IT WAS FINALLY NOTICED AROUND TWO SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Orford firefighter dies in line of duty, Charles Waterbury suffered medical emergency at Lyme brush fire7/25/16 | Online Article
ORFORD, N.H. —An Orford firefighter died in the line of duty over the weekend after helping fight a brush fire. Charles Waterbury was an active member of the Orford Fire Department for about 10 years. ”
While fighting a brush fire in Lyme, Waterbury suffered a medical emergency and was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.(More at the link…) - NH Firefighter Collapses, Dies at Brush Fire7/25/16 | Online Article
NH flags were ordered to half-mast in honor of a firefighter who collapsed and died fighting a brush fire.
Orford Firefighter Charles Waterbury suffered a medical emergency at a fire in Lyme. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
- Gov Maggie Hanson Facebook page: Governor Maggie Hassan issued the following statement on the passing of Orford firefighter Charles Waterbury, who passed away fighting a brush fire in Lyme, and directed flags to half-staff on Monday, July 25, through Wednesday, July 27:
“Charles Waterbury courageously rushed to fight a brush fire in Lyme to protect his fellow citizens, and in doing so, was tragically taken from us far too soon. Through his service in the Orford Fire Department and the New Hampshire National Guard, Charles dedicated his life to keeping others safe, and his heroic commitment to public service has strengthened our state and our nation. Tom and I join all Granite Staters in mourning his tragic loss, and it is our responsibility as Granite Staters to come together in support of Charles’ family, loved ones, fellow firefighters and the entire Orford community,”
- USFA Memorial Database: Charles Waterbury
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