Stephen Arthur Machcinski

Firefighter Machcinski and Firefighter Dickman were assigned as a part of a 4 person crew on Engine 3. At 1445hrs, Engine 3 and other units were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in an apartment building. A responding command officer reported smoke showing during his response. Engine 3 was the first to arrive and reported smoke and fire showing from the second floor of the structure.

Engine 3 arrived at 1453hrs. Firefighter Machcinski and Firefighter Dickman were ordered to advance a handline and attack the fire. They gained access to the second floor over a ground ladder and entered the structure. They firefighters reported applying water to the fire at 1502hrs.

Shortly thereafter, fire conditions changed dramatically. At 1503hrs, Firefighter Machcinski called a Mayday and the officer of Engine 3 also called a Mayday. The incident commander ordered an evacuation of the structure. A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) was activated to search for the missing firefighters.

Firefighters discovered Firefighter Dickman at 1520hrs and removed him from the structure. He was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 1540hrs. Firefighter Machcinski was also discovered a short time later by firefighters and transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1545hrs. Both firefighters died as the result of thermal burns and exposure to carbon monoxide.

The cause of the fire was incendiary.

For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2014-02 (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201402.pdf)

Incident Location: Corner building, 548 Magnolia ST/1410 N Huron ST (U.S. National Grid: 17T KA 9009 1527)