Something is killing our firefighters

By Leo Hohmann, 5/17/23

We’ve heard a lot over the last two years about athletes, entertainers, journalists and other known people dying suddenly and unexpectedly of “natural causes,” or “unknown causes” even though most of them were thought to be completely healthy up until the moment they collapsed.

But what about the unknowns? The ones that don’t make the news? The nurses, firefighters, policemen and teachers who go to work each day in relative anonymity?

The elephant in the room that the corporate mainstream media does not want you to even consider is the toxic Covid jabs that started being mandated among health and safety professionals in early 2021.

In my research I’ve discovered a treasure trove of data on one of the most anonymous professions of all, that of firefighters. They don’t have a national union or spokesman so when they die it rarely makes it beyond the local newspaper, and if they didn’t die in the line of duty their death is unlikely to make front page news even in the local media.

But they are dying in unprecedented numbers.

The U.S. Fire Administration keeps track of firefighter deaths, but only those that occur while on duty or soon after responding to a call.

In 2021, when the Covid vax was first rolled out, there were 141 firefighter deaths recorded by USFA – that was up 38.2 percent from 102 deaths in 2020 (when Covid was supposedly raging throughout the United States) and up 54.6 percent from the pre-Covid year of 2019.

Still curious, I checked the five-year, pre-Covid average for firefighter deaths and that number was 86. An average of 86 firefighters per year died between 2015 and 2019. So why did 141 die in 2021, when they were all getting jabbed?

In 2022, the USFA recorded 96 firefighter deaths and there’s already been 27 through April of 2023. Of the 27 deaths logged so far in 2023, 17 of them involved cardiac arrest or some other “undetermined” cause of death. I have not yet gone through all of the 2022 and 2021 deaths to find out how many involved cardiac incidents.

Since firefighters are among the most vaxxed Americans (almost all departments mandated the shots), it would be fortuitous to look at the number of cardiac incidents that resulted in not just death but also serious injury. So far no one has done that.

All of the below incidents come from the U.S. Fire Administration website and include links to the original post. I only included the cases that were attributed to fatal heart attacks or appeared to be cardiac in nature, not any of those attributed to traumatic injury, suicide, etc.

·       On April 24, 2023, Capt. Roy Sewell, age 27, was responding to an EMS call at the North Tazewell, Tennessee, Volunteer Fire Department. While en route, the apparatus he was driving left the roadway and rolled down a steep embankment. Captain Sewell was fatally injured and was declared deceased at the scene. It’s not known what made him suddenly drive off the road. It could have been human error, or it could have been a heart attack. There’s no mention of an autopsy being conducted.

·       On April 22, 2023, Firefighter Fred Fedeler, 67, was at the scene of an agricultural facility fire in Chester, South Dakota, when he suffered a medical emergency. He was immediately treated at the scene and then rushed to the Madison Regional Health System. He passed away a short time later from an apparent heart attack.

·       On April 21, 2023, multiple fire and rescue stations from Frederick County, Virginia, and Hampshire County, West Virginia responded to a wildland fire in Frederick County. Approximately 2 hours after arriving home, Deputy Chief Lauck, 66, began to feel ill and 911 was immediately called. He was then transported to a heart specialty center where he was treated. During this time, he suffered multiple heart attacks and was put on life support. Deputy Chief Lauck passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

·       On April 12, a Sussex County (NJ) firefighter died after suffering a heart attack, according to news reports. Tony Duivenvoorde, a 62-year-old firefighter and life member of the Sussex Fire Department and EMS, responded to two calls on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, and subsequently passed away at his home.

·       On March 23, 2023, Firefighter Jeff M. Pfeiffer, 66, responded to a smoke investigation at the intersection in the town of Deptford, New Jersey. No fire or smoke was found. On the return trip, Firefighter Pfeiffer began to cough. As firefighters arrived at the fire station, the coughing became more aggressive and he began to experience shortness of breath; he had suffered a heart attack. Firefighter Pfeiffer then became unresponsive. He was immediately transported to the hospital where he remained in critical condition. The next day, Friday, March 24, 2023, there was no sign of brain activity and the family made a decision to take him off of life support.

·       On April 5, 2023, the Chicago Fire Department responded to a fire at a high-rise building on Lake Shore Drive. While heading down the stairway departing the fire floor, Lt. Jan Tchoryk collapsed. He was immediately treated by crews on the scene and transported to the hospital where he passed away a short time later. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

·       On April 4, 2023, the Chicago Fire Department responded to a residential fire at 120th and Wallace Streets at about 4 a.m. The body of Firefighter/EMT Jermaine A. Pelt, 49, was located by his hose line at about 4:10 a.m. He was immediately transported to the hospital where he passed away a short time later. The cause of death remains unknown.

·       On March 13, 2023, Chief Minton “Butch” Beach was attending fire department mandated training at the station. During the training, he started to feel ill and returned home. A while later, fire department members checked on him and he was still feeling poorly. He was transported to the hospital where he remained until his passing on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from an apparent heart attack. He was 68.

·       On March 16, 2023, Bartow County (GA) Fire and Emergency Services (BCFES) Firefighter Matthew Brian Smith, 41, became unresponsive during a search and rescue training exercise at the Bartow-Cartersville Fire Joint Training Center. Instructors for the exercise with Firefighter Smith immediately recognized that he was experiencing an acute medical emergency and quickly removed him from the search maze to begin resuscitative measures. Personnel immediately began CPR and initiated advanced cardiac life support protocols. BCFES had an on-site ALS ambulance on standby for training and the decision was made for that unit to transport Firefighter Smith to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. Emergency response personnel, as well as emergency department staff, worked tirelessly to resuscitate Firefighter Smith. He did regain cardiac function and was placed on life support for 6 days. Regretfully, Firefighter Smith passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from complications related to his medical emergency. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

  On February 25, 2023, at 2:33 p.m., Apparatus Operator Ricky Hill Jr., 49, of the Flint, Michigan, Fire Department, responded with fire crews to a vacant mobile home fire. While on scene, Hill suffered a medical emergency and collapsed. He was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On February 21, 2023, Firefighter Paul Cloutier, 52, was paged for a water rescue. While preparing to respond, he suffered a medical emergency. He was found the next day, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in his truck, deceased. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On February 14, 2023, and Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, Chief Todd J. Yandre, 61, attended live evolution fire training at the fire station. Later in the evening, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, Chief Yandre, while at the local gym, collapsed and was pronounced deceased at the scene from an apparent heart attack.

·       On February 12, 2023, Assistant Chief Steve “Bullwinkle” Haskin Harris, 56, of the Fort Johnson (NY) Fire Department was at the fire station, attending a Super Bowl Party. While at the station, fire department personnel, including Assistant Chief Harris, were “toned out” for a mutual aid structure fire. He left the department to get Engine 4 from their Station 2. Harris drove his privately owned vehicle to Station 2 to retrieve Engine 4. While there, he was met by a fellow firefighter. Both donned their gear when the other firefighter noticed Harris was experiencing shortness of breath. Both left the station in Engine 4, with Assistant Chief Harris as the passenger, enroute to the structure fire. The other firefighter pulled into Station 1 because Assistant Chief Harris’ condition quickly deteriorated and turned into difficulty breathing. He was immediately transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where he was intubated. Shortly after, he went into cardiac arrest. Hospital staff were able to get his heart beat back. He remained in critical but stable condition and was flown to Albany Medical Center the next morning, Monday, Feb. 13. Unfortunately, Assistant Chief Harris went into multi system organ failure and passed away that same morning.

·       On February 3, 2023, Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Norbury, 50, was at the training center performing hose evolutions for the Gresham, Oregon, Fire Dept. Afterwards, he was pale and told his co-workers that he didn’t feel well. A short time later, he collapsed and life-saving efforts were immediately performed. He was then rushed to Portland Adventist Hospital where resuscitation efforts continued. He passed away a short time later from cardiac arrest.

·       On January 25, 2023, Firefighter Robert “Bob” Thomas Gardner Jr., 55, was at the fire station putting apparatus and equipment back in service, following a residential structure fire call to the Richmond, Rhode Island, Fire Department. He then returned home. Sometime in the middle of the night on January 26, he suffered an apparent heart attack and passed away.

·       On January 12, 2023, at approximately 2:25 a.m., Capt. Charles “Chad” Cate, 46, returned to the fire station after responding to a fire alarm activation at a commercial building. Later, at approximately 4 a.m., after heading back out to the site of an earlier house fire, he texted a fellow captain and the duty chief to state that all was well at the scene. At 7 a.m. that same morning, he was discovered deceased in his bunk by members of his crew when they attempted to wake him. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On December 7, 2022, a structure fire was reported to the Clinton (Illinois) Volunteer Fire Department, which called for help from neighboring Maroa Countryside Fire District and Chief Larry Peasley. Chief Peasley arrived at the fire station dressing in fire gear when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately performed and he was then rushed to the hospital where he remained until his passing on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

·       A firefighter with the North Park (IL) Fire Protection District in Machesney Park passed away after a Christmas Day run, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. On Sunday, December 25, 2022, Firefighter/EMT Brian Rehnberg, 50, responded to an activated alarm with carbon monoxide present. After the incident, he returned home. At approximately 2:30 p.m. that day, he was found unresponsive by his wife. He was immediately transported to the local hospital where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent heart attack. According to his obituary, Firefighter/EMT Rehnberg served with the Cherry Valley Fire Department for 1999 to 2006 and from 2006 until the present time with North Park Fire Department.

Something is killing our firefighters. These are just the cases so far that I could find in 2023. I will be further crunching numbers and relaying more information from these two databases as time allows.

  On February 25, 2023, at 2:33 p.m., Apparatus Operator Ricky Hill Jr., 49, of the Flint, Michigan, Fire Department, responded with fire crews to a vacant mobile home fire. While on scene, Hill suffered a medical emergency and collapsed. He was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On February 21, 2023, Firefighter Paul Cloutier, 52, was paged for a water rescue. While preparing to respond, he suffered a medical emergency. He was found the next day, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in his truck, deceased. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On February 14, 2023, and Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, Chief Todd J. Yandre, 61, attended live evolution fire training at the fire station. Later in the evening, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, Chief Yandre, while at the local gym, collapsed and was pronounced deceased at the scene from an apparent heart attack.

·       On February 12, 2023, Assistant Chief Steve “Bullwinkle” Haskin Harris, 56, of the Fort Johnson (NY) Fire Department was at the fire station, attending a Super Bowl Party. While at the station, fire department personnel, including Assistant Chief Harris, were “toned out” for a mutual aid structure fire. He left the department to get Engine 4 from their Station 2. Harris drove his privately owned vehicle to Station 2 to retrieve Engine 4. While there, he was met by a fellow firefighter. Both donned their gear when the other firefighter noticed Harris was experiencing shortness of breath. Both left the station in Engine 4, with Assistant Chief Harris as the passenger, enroute to the structure fire. The other firefighter pulled into Station 1 because Assistant Chief Harris’ condition quickly deteriorated and turned into difficulty breathing. He was immediately transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where he was intubated. Shortly after, he went into cardiac arrest. Hospital staff were able to get his heart beat back. He remained in critical but stable condition and was flown to Albany Medical Center the next morning, Monday, Feb. 13. Unfortunately, Assistant Chief Harris went into multi system organ failure and passed away that same morning.

·       On February 3, 2023, Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Norbury, 50, was at the training center performing hose evolutions for the Gresham, Oregon, Fire Dept. Afterwards, he was pale and told his co-workers that he didn’t feel well. A short time later, he collapsed and life-saving efforts were immediately performed. He was then rushed to Portland Adventist Hospital where resuscitation efforts continued. He passed away a short time later from cardiac arrest.

·       On January 25, 2023, Firefighter Robert “Bob” Thomas Gardner Jr., 55, was at the fire station putting apparatus and equipment back in service, following a residential structure fire call to the Richmond, Rhode Island, Fire Department. He then returned home. Sometime in the middle of the night on January 26, he suffered an apparent heart attack and passed away.

·       On January 12, 2023, at approximately 2:25 a.m., Capt. Charles “Chad” Cate, 46, returned to the fire station after responding to a fire alarm activation at a commercial building. Later, at approximately 4 a.m., after heading back out to the site of an earlier house fire, he texted a fellow captain and the duty chief to state that all was well at the scene. At 7 a.m. that same morning, he was discovered deceased in his bunk by members of his crew when they attempted to wake him. The cause of his death has yet to be determined.

·       On December 7, 2022, a structure fire was reported to the Clinton (Illinois) Volunteer Fire Department, which called for help from neighboring Maroa Countryside Fire District and Chief Larry Peasley. Chief Peasley arrived at the fire station dressing in fire gear when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately performed and he was then rushed to the hospital where he remained until his passing on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

·       A firefighter with the North Park (IL) Fire Protection District in Machesney Park passed away after a Christmas Day run, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. On Sunday, December 25, 2022, Firefighter/EMT Brian Rehnberg, 50, responded to an activated alarm with carbon monoxide present. After the incident, he returned home. At approximately 2:30 p.m. that day, he was found unresponsive by his wife. He was immediately transported to the local hospital where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent heart attack. According to his obituary, Firefighter/EMT Rehnberg served with the Cherry Valley Fire Department for 1999 to 2006 and from 2006 until the present time with North Park Fire Department.

Something is killing our firefighters. These are just the cases so far that I could find in 2023. I will be further crunching numbers and relaying more information from these two databases as time allows.

Leo Hohmann

Leo Hohmann is an independent journalist, blogger and author of the 2017 book Stealth Invasion. If you haven’t yet read his blockbuster article, Sanitized Dictatorship, that has shaken the bloggasphere in the wake of COVID-19, please check it out.