Daryl Eugene Gordon

Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon and the crew of Heavy Rescue 14 (HR14) responded to a report of a working fire in a residential high-rise. Upon their arrival on the scene at 0604hrs, HR14 was assigned to perform a search of the 5th floor.

Upon their arrival on the 5th floor landing, firefighters entered the area to search. Smoke was moderate with visibility limited to 4-5 feet. At approximately 0612hrs, members of the HR14 crew, not including Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon, came upon an elevator door that was open to the shaft. Firefighters marked the door “Do Not Enter Open Shaft” and continued with their search.

Firefighters continued the search of the 5th floor and gave an “all clear” to Command at 0615hrs. At 0619, Command called for a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR). The company officer of HR14 could not account for Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon and a search was initiated.

At 0622hrs, Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon was located by firefighters in the elevator shaft. He was wedged between the elevator and the shaft wall at the 2nd floor level. A MAYDAY was transmitted and Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon was extricated. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 0708hrs. His death was caused by traumatic injuries.

A comprehensive preliminary report on this incident was developed by the Cincinnati Fire Department. It can be found at https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityofcincinnati/assets/File/Dahlgren%20Preliminary%20LODD%20Report.pdf

Incident Location: 6020 Dahlgren ST, Cincinnati, OH (U.S. National Grid: 16S GJ 2542 3856)