TOLEDO, OH–At a press conference, Chief Luis Santiago gave a prepared statement, but was not able to answer questions about the fire that killed to Toledo (OH) Fire Department members during the afternoon of January 26. He asked members of the media to respect the space of the department’s personnel.
At 2:47 PM on January 26, 2014, units from the Toledo (OH) Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire at 528 Magnolia. Engine 3 arrived on location and members went to work to extinguish the fire.
During firefighting operations, two firefighters, Private James Dickman, 31 with six months on the job, and Private Stephen Machcinski, 42 with 16 years on the job, suffered fatal injuries. Rescue teams located and removed their fellow firefighters and immediately began emergency care. The firefighters were transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
According to fire department officials, a formal and detailed investigation into the incident will take place according to fire department policy, and it will involve multiple agencies.
Mayor D. Michael Collins asked Toledo residents to lower their flags to half-mast on January 27, 2014 beginning at 8:00 AM.
For more, consider Two Firefighters Killed in Toledo (OH) Fire.
For related material, consider this tribute from artist Paul Combs and Doug Mitchell’s commentary “Anywhere, Anytime.”
