The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: SD,NC

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 43rd through 46th Line Of Duty Deaths in 2012 from the United States Fire Administration. The following four indviduals serving their country as Air Guard crew members aboard a C-130 died as a result of a crash while fighting a wild land fire in South Dakota. Aviators Paul Mikeal, Joseph McCormick, Ryan David and Robert Cannon, have all made the ultimate sacrifice in love for their fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to to the family and members of the of the 145th Airlift Wing and prayers to the two who survived and their families for a speedy and full recovery.

Paul K. Mikeal

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel/Evaluator Pilot
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 20

Joseph M. McCormick

Rank: Major/Instructor Pilot
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: Pending

Ryan S. David

Rank: Major/Navigator
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: Pending

Robert S. Cannon

Rank: Senior Master Sergeant/Flight Engineer
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 29

Date of Incident: 07/01/2012
Time of Incident: 1830hrs
Date of Death: 07/01/2012

Fire Department: 145th Airlift Wing
Address: 4930 Minuteman Way, Charlotte, NC 28208
Fire Department Chief: BG Tony McMillan

Incident Description: Four members of the North Carolina Air National Guard, members of 145th Airlift Wing, were killed and two seriously injured while working a fire attack mission in South Dakota on the White Draw fire near Edgemont. The firefighting crew of the Air Force C-130H3, carrying a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), had been battling wildfires in the days leading up to the crash, including those around Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Incident Location: White Draw fire (near Edgemont, SD - USNG: 13T EJ 99 04)

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Colonel Paul K. Mikeal, Major Joseph M. McCormick, Major Ryan S. David, and Senior Master Sergeant Robert S. Cannon at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 46 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats...