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Nov. 27, 2007
Shelley Szafraniec, APR
Community Information Specialist

VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES LOSES ONE OF THEIR OWN IN TRAINING INCIDENT

A 30-year-old firefighter with Volusia County Fire Services was killed this morning during training at the Volusia County Fire Training Center, 3889 Tiger Bay Road, Daytona Beach.

John Curry was part of Volusia County’s Wildland Fire Team, which was practicing power and chain saw use at the center. Witnesses said a pine tree fell on Curry. He was pronounced dead at 11:05 a.m.

"This is a tragic loss for all of us,” said Frank Bruno, Volusia County chair. “Our hearts are heavy and we extend our deepest sympathy to his friends and family."

Curry was hired by Volusia County Fire Services in January and was stationed at Station 41 in DeLeon Springs. This was his first firefighting job. He was a graduate of T. Dewitt Taylor High School in Pierson and lived in DeLand.

The Firewalker Wildland Team was created in March 1995. Members, known as Firewalkers, consist of volunteer and career personnel. There are 38 team members and only a portion of them were at the training. They have been conducting ongoing training.

Firewalkers receive advanced training in fire behavior, strategy and tactics, and safety specific to wildland fire. Along with the classroom training, the team conducts field exercise drills to utilize the learned skills in a controlled environment, such as fire line construction, special equipment techniques, and team tactics to help mitigate an emergency situation.

This was the first fatality at the training center, which was built in 1988. The center trains 12,000 - 15,000 firefighters a year. Training includes recruit academies for volunteer and career personnel, courses and in-service training covering all aspects of firefighting, emergency medical care, rescue, hazardous materials and other special hazards.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit, in conjunction with the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office, is conducting a death investigation, which is customary in accidental deaths. An autopsy has been scheduled for this afternoon.

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