Matthew LeTourneau

Lieutenant LeTourneau and the members of his engine company responded to a residential structure fire with reports of people trapped inside.  After finding a deceased occupant at the entrance to the dwelling, Lieutenant LeTourneau and other firefighters made an interior coordinated fire attack. 

Due to freezing temperatures and water supply issues, the incident commander on-scene ordered all companies to evacuate the building.  Due to continued reports of trapped persons, the incident commander ordered firefighters to resume the interior attack.  Shortly thereafter, a “May Day” was broadcast.  A structural collapse had occurred inside the house. 

An emergency evacuation was called, and the incident commander ordered a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR).  Lieutenant LeTourneau did not respond to the PAR.  Fire companies entered the building as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and found Lieutenant LeTourneau trapped under debris.  After the RIT extricated Lieutenant LeTourneau, he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The cause of death was positional asphyxia with superheated gas and smoke inhalation.

Lieutenant LeTourneau was posthumously promoted to Captain.

Incident Location: 2240 N Colorado St, Philadelphia, PA 19132 (U.S. National Grid: U.S. National Grid: 18S VK 86216 26420)