Fallen Fla. Firefighter's Widow Sues FD

Oct. 25, 2009
The widow of a firefighter killed during a 2007 training exercise is suing Volusia County Fire Services, according to The Orlando Sentinel. A 40-foot tree fell on Firefighter John Curry on Nov. 27, 2007 as another firefighter cut it down with a chain saw. Curry was attending his first wildfire training session as a new member of the firewalkers and had no formal training in cutting down trees or using chain saws, according to the lawsuit.

The widow of a firefighter killed during a 2007 training exercise is suing Volusia County Fire Services, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

A 40-foot tree fell on Firefighter John Curry on Nov. 27, 2007 as another firefighter cut it down with a chain saw.

Curry was attending his first wildfire training session as a new member of the firewalkers and had no formal training in cutting down trees or using chain saws, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that the 30-year-old first responder ran down the designated escape route, which ending up being to direction of where the tree fell, the newspaper's report said.

The Florida Division of State Fire Marshal released a report last spring blaming the department for failures during the training exercise held at a training center near Dayton Beach.

Curry's seeks compensation for the loss of her husband's future "support and services" and also wants compensatory damages for her and her son's mental pain and suffering.

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