On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at FDIC International 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 3:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m., Josh Burchick will explain to students “When FDIC Loses One of Its Own” to best prepare fire departments should they suffer the ultimate loss.
A July 23, 2018, fire in Howard County, Maryland, resulted in the line-of-duty death of a career firefighter while engaged in firefighting operations. Experience this incident up through the moments leading to the Mayday, the conditions encountered during the search, and the subsequent removal of the firefighter.
Share the experiences and mindsets of the department members as they prepared, planned, and anticipated before this tragic accident and in the aftermath of the tragedy–incident investigations; communications; personnel resiliency; and the effect on the families, departmental philosophy, and health and wellness. It was evident from the initial dispatch through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigation report that this was no “ordinary” fire.
Burchick has more than 15 years of firefighting experience. He is a lieutenant with Howard County (MD) Fire & Rescue. He is also a lead trainer for the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival Program, an ACE-certified peer fitness trainer, and a nationally accredited CrossFit trainer. He has a bachelor’s degree in public safety leadership from Johns Hopkins University.
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