CT Firefighter dies from fall during training

[Adze39]

WOLCOTT (AP) -- A Southington firefighter who was injured during a training exercise has died. Justin Wisneiwski was injured when he fell off a ladder during a training exercise at the regional state fire training school in Wolcott on Saturday.

A spokesman at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury says Wisneiwski died yesterday. Wisneiwski suffered serious injuries in the fall Saturday afternoon at the Wolcott State Fire School.

Fire officials reported he fell off a 24-foot extension ladder and from a height of about 20 feet. Wisneiwski, whose age isn't available, joined the department January 18. He was participating in entry level training for firefighters.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

[arhaney]

Thoughts and prayers going out for Justin, his family and his fellow firefighters.

[cdemarse]

RIP

[CJMinick390]

Rest in peace, brother. It's always hard to lose a firefighter. It's double difficult to accept and understand when the death occurs during training.

[fireguy919]

god bless and a prayer for all involved.

[beastie35]

Rest In Peace Fellow Brother
Thoughts and Prayers to his Family and Friends

[lutan1]

RIP

It's double difficult to accept and understand when the death occurs during training.

Aint that the truth

[NJFFSA16]

WOLCOTT, Conn. (AP)- A rookie Southington firefighter who was
injured when he fell off a ladder during a training exercise at the
regional state fire training school over the weekend has died.
Justin Wisneiwski, who was injured Saturday afternoon, died
Sunday at Saint Mary's Hospital, according to a hospital
spokeswoman.
Wisneiwski, who joined the department Jan. 18, fell about 20
feet off an extension latter at the Wolcott State Fire School.
Wisneiwski, whose age wasn't available, was participating in a
class for Fire 1 training, which is entry level training for
firefighters, fire officials said Saturday. The session was part of
a three-month class offered to area schools.
The school previously had one fatal incident. In March 2004,
Prospect volunteer firefighter Robert Griffin, 38, died during a
simulation maze exercise. Officials reported that Griffin collapsed
from cardiac arrest during the exercise.
The school in Wolcott is one of eight fire training facilities
across the state. Paid and volunteer firefighters use the centers
for basic training and retraining. Firefighters also can create
live fire exercises.
---
Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Diane E]

For those wondering, he was only 19 years old as reported when he was first injured:

CONNECTICUT NEWS

Firefighter Injured
April 3, 2005

WOLCOTT -- A volunteer firefighter from Southington was seriously injured Saturday during a training exercise at the Wolcott Fire Training School, police said.

Justin Wisneiwski, 19, a member of the fire department's Company No. 1, fell and was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, where, police said, he was in the intensive care unit.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc...,2360487.story

[aarel20]

R.I.P brother
your family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
A sad day for the Southinton FD.

[Adze39]

From the New Britain Herald:

04/05/2005
Firefighter dies while training
By GEORGE MOORE , Staff Writer

SOUTHINGTON -- An 18-year-old resident training to be a firefighter died Sunday at St. Mary’s Hospitalin Waterbury after falling off a 20-foot ladder at the Wolcott Regional Fire School.
Justin M. Wisniewski was at the fire school on Boundline Road in Wolcott Saturday when he fell at about 1:30 p.m., according to Paul Perrotti, president of the Waterbury Area Fire Chiefs Association, which runs the Wolcott school.

Wisniewski was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital with head injuries, Perrotti said, and died at the hospital on Sunday.

Fire school administrators and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the accident, the president said.

Wisniewski, who was working with Volunteer Engine Company No. 1, was training to become a volunteer firefighter for the Southington Fire Department. He hoped to become a full-time firefighter, said Fire Chief Richard McDonough. He began at the Southington department Jan. 18.

Wisniewski’s family declined comment.

The Southington Fire Department held a stress debriefing for the company Wisniewski belonged to Monday night.

The department has been shaken up by the incident, McDonough said. Fatal accidents, he said, are rare at training schools; Wisniewski’s was the first he has seen in all his years at the fire department.

"I don’t even remember one," he said. "Firefighting is a dangerous profession and the training has to be commensurate with what you’re doing."

Only one other trainee has died at the Wolcott school since 1968, Perrotti said. The death was caused by cardiac arrest, not an accident.

The school also held a stress debriefing Monday night for Wisniewski’s classmates, and will have a few other debriefings in the next few days. Classes at the Wolcott school have been canceled since Saturday and may resume after a two-week break, Perrotti said.

"We’re just regrouping tonight," he said. "We’ve already had one critical debriefing. This was a traumatic thing."

A Mass of Christian Burial for Wisniewski will be celebrated on Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, 98 Franklin Square, New Britain. Calling hours at the Carlson Funeral Home, at 45 Franklin Square, New Britain, will be Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m.

[FiftyOnePride]

Rest In Peace, Brother.

[Adze39]

Teen's Death Stuns Town

Fall In Training Kills Firefighter
April 5, 2005

By ROBERTO GONZALEZ, Courant Staff Writer

SOUTHINGTON -- Those who knew rookie firefighter Justin Wisniewski said he was a caring young man with a bright smile and the desire to help people.

Wisniewski, who was injured during a training exercise in Wolcott Saturday afternoon, died Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. He was 18.

"It's very tough," Southington Fire Chief Richard McDonough said Monday. "It's been a very stressful two days, especially with somebody that young. It's really devastating."

McDonough said it was the first time his department has lost a firefighter during a training exercise. Wisniewski was a volunteer firefighter who joined the department Jan. 18 and was part of Fire Company No. 1.

Saturday afternoon, Wisniewski fell 20 feet while descending an extension ladder during a training exercise at the Wolcott State Fire School, Wolcott police Capt. Domenic Angiolillo said Monday.

Wisniewski, who was in full gear, including his helmet, fell on his head, Angiolillo said.

Angiolillo said the Wolcott Police Department is close to wrapping up its investigation, but it appears Wisniewski's foot got caught on the top rung of the freestanding ladder, causing him to fall.

Wisniewski was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, where he died. The chief medical examiner's office said an autopsy would be done today.

The Connecticut office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also is investigating the accident.

Fellow firefighters said Monday that Wisniewski had always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Matt Wisniewski, and also become a firefighter. Wisniewski's death has hit the fire department hard, they said.

"The mood is dismal," said firefighter Graham Eyres, standing outside Fire Company No. 1's firehouse Monday afternoon.

Others agreed.

"He was young and ambitious," firefighter Dave Jeffrey said. "He really wanted to be a firefighter and was in the early stages of his training. He was a likable young man."

McDonough met with Wisniewski's family Monday afternoon. He said there would be a stress debriefing for the whole company Monday night, allowing firefighters to grieve together.

Wisniewski graduated from Southington High School in 2004, where was interested in business classes and involved with Future Business Leaders of America, Principal Kathy McGrath said.

"He was a very popular student," McGrath said. "He always had a bright smile on his face and was well-liked. He also worked with preschool kids and was a very positive role model for those kids."

Wisniewski's high school yearbook quote read: "I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death."

Town council Chairwoman Victoria Triano said Wisniewski's death was a huge loss for the town and that a moment of silence will be observed before the town council's regular meeting Monday.

Funeral arrangements are pending.