The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Firefighter/Driver-Operator Dwayne “Yogi” Thomas, 57, of the U.S. Virgin Islands Fire Service on January 24, 2018.
Shortly after driving a tanker to the scene of a structure fire, Firefighter/Driver-Operator Dwayne “Yogi” Thomas assisted with forced entry of the burning building. Firefighter Thomas then returned to his apparatus as other fire engines arrived on scene to set up water supply. Soon thereafter, Firefighter Thomas was found unresponsive by fellow responders. Thomas was attended to immediately, but succumbed to his injury, a reported heart attack, while being transported to the hospital.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter/Driver-Operator Thomas at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, five firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
