There has been a lot of discussion nationally regarding the recent tragic loss of PA. Fire Instructor Robert "Newt" Gallardy, 47. Firefighter deaths shake us all ... deaths during training shake us even harder.
Gallardy's death on Oct. 25, 2005 was the first time anyone lost their life at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. While speculation is unavoidable, finding out what happened to his longtime friend and assuring that it never happens again is turning into a passion for Edward Mann, the PA. State Fire Commissioner and the man who is shouldering the responsibility for Gallardy's death. Bob Gallardy's death will not be in vain, that is a promise, Mann has stated. Every line-of-duty death hurts, but this one hurts even more because I worked with Bob. I'm taking this a little more personal.
Gallardy was a part of a team teaching instructor trainees on Oct. 23, the last day of a five-day training session spread over two weekends, Gallardy went to the basement of the burn building where the fire had been set. Something went wrong and he never walked back out. Student instructors found him collapsed on the basement floor with burns to 75 percent of his body. He died two days later leaving a wife a two sons behind. An autopsy failed to show any pre-existing physical problems and Gallardy's death was ruled to be caused by the fire.
Join [email protected]'s Through The Smoke radio program with host Billy Goldfeder and his guest this week: Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann for a discussion of the facts and what is known so far, about the tragic Line of Duty Death of Bob Gallardy.
Related Links:
• Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner's 'Evertyone Goes Home/Courage to Be Safe' Campaign
• Everyone Goes Home/NFFF
• FirefighterCloseCalls.com
• The National Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System
If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: [email protected]
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