Memorial Service Planned Thursday for Two Fallen Toledo Heroes

by backstep Jan 26, 2014, 4:54 pm 69 Comments

Stephen A. Machcinski, 42, left, and James Dickman, 31, right, of the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department died in the line of duty Sunday. (Via Toledo Blade)

Firefighters Died from Burns, Carbon Mononxide

Toledo Blade — The Toledo firefighters who died after fighting a fire in North Toledo died of thermal burns and exposure to carbon monoxide, an autopsy showed. Stephen Machcinski, 41, and James Dickman, 31, were fighting a two-story apartment fire at 528 Magnolia St. on Sunday afternoon when they became lost. The two were eventually pulled from the burning building by their fellow firefighters and taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center where they were pronounced dead. The autopsies were performed on Monday by Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser. Toxicology results are pending.

Memorial Thursday
Toledo Blade — A “last alarm” memorial service for fallen Toledo firefighters Stephen Machcinski and James Dickman is slated for Thursday evening at the SeaGate Centre. The service is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Ave. in downtown Toledo.

Private Machcinski’s family will welcome friends from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave., according to an obituary from the funeral home. There will be a funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Private Machcinski’s family asked for tributes to be made to a memorial fund established for the Dickman family. Donations may be made at any PNC Bank branch.

Funeral arrangements for Private Dickman have not been released.

In the video above, Toledo officials describe how a rapid deterioration of conditions led to the deaths of two firefighters. Learn more about the two firefighters lost, their family left behind and legacy in the video below.

Monday Afternoon Update Officials have concluded a press conference, providing some additional information about the fire that claimed the lives of Toledo firefighters Stephen A. Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31. Fire Chief Luis Santiago asked for privacy for the families of the men. Dickman leaves behind a wife and two young children, Machinski is survived by his parents and a sibling.

“We are a band of brothers and sisters… We are a family. We are a team,” Santiago said. “We are all trained to maintain professionalism and composure in things like this. It’s going to take some days.”

Officials said conditions deteriorated rapidly as crews battle Sunday afternoon’s fire. As reported yesterday, command was seconds away from shifting to defensive operations when the initial Mayday was called.

Memorial and funeral arrangements are pending. No cause of the fire has been released.

Perkins Township Police officials told us today that James Dickman was a firefighter with the Perkins Township Fire Department prior to be hired by Toledo.

The sign on the union hall of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 92 in downtown Toledo. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASE, Republished with Permission — The sign on the union hall of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 92 in downtown Toledo.
THE BLADE/JETTA FRASE, Republished with Permission

Mayday Audio – Audio has been edited to remove names. Starting at around the 4:00 mark crews discuss worsening fire conditions and going defensive, at 4:27 the Mayday is called.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131548476″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Toledo Blade Report, Republished with Permission

Two Toledo firefighters were killed on Sunday while battling an apartment complex fire in North Toledo — the city’s first firefighter fatalities from an active blaze since 1981.

Stephen A. Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31, died of injuries sustained while fighting a fire at 528 Magnolia St.

Private Machcinski had more than 15 years of service. Private Dickman was appointed to the department in September. His fire class of 51 recruits, sworn in on Sept. 3, has not yet had its graduation ceremony.

Toledo firefighters rush a fellow firefighter down the stairs of a six unit apartment building at 528 Magnolia in Toledo. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER, Repubilshed with Permission — Toledo firefighters rush a fellow firefighter down the stairs of a six unit apartment building at 528 Magnolia in Toledo.
THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER, Repubilshed with Permission

Privates Machcinski and Dickman were among the firefighters who went into a six-unit apartment building after a blaze was reported at 2:47 p.m.

A despondent Fire Chief Luis Santiago, at a news conference Sunday night at the downtown headquarters, said that inside the burning building the two — who were both assigned to Engine 3 —suffered fatal injuries.

Firefighters went into the building to look for Privates Machcinski and Dickman, who were lost in the fire for several minutes, according to radio traffic.

• Link: More Photos from the Toledo Blade

“After what could be described as valiant efforts” the two were pulled from the still-burning building and other firefighters “began immediate … life-saving’’ attempts, Chief Santiago said. The two were then taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.

Dr. Maneesha Pandey, a Lucas County deputy coroner, said autopsies are scheduled for today.

• 48 Firefighters Have Died in Department’s 177-Year History

Chief Santiago did not take questions from the media after the news conference, but promised a “detailed investigation,” with the help of “many agencies,” would take place.

• More Coverage on First Arriving Network Sites

Mayor D. Michael Collins, at the news conference, said firefighters and police officers are different in that “they run into harm’s way instead of running away” from it.

Twitter Updates: “Toledo Firefighter” Tweets

The mayor asked that, starting at 8 a.m. today, flags around the community be flown at half-staff out of respect for firefighters and their families.

After the news conference, Mayor Collins said Mr. Dickman’s parents, who live in Mansfield, Ohio, were escorted to Toledo by the Ohio Highway Patrol on Sunday.

“This is an indelible thing that can never be erased,” Mayor Collins said.

Firefighters could be seen removing the second firefighter from the back part of the building still engulfed in smoke around 3:30 p.m. The firefighter, laid on a stretcher, was taken away by Lucas County EMS.

Over the next two hours, firefighters doused the smoking structure with water. Flames occasionally erupted from the roof.

Officials at the scene did not speak to reporters, and additional details about the fire were unavailable on Sunday. Chief Santiago said additional information would be provided as it’s available.

A person wearing a Toledo firefighters' clothing was taken on a stretcher from the second floor of a burning building and taken to a Lucas County EMS . THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER — A person wearing a Toledo firefighters’ clothing was taken on a stretcher from the second floor of a burning building and taken to a Lucas County EMS .
THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Patricia Rollins lives in the upstairs of the building. She watched in near-tears from a snowy sidewalk across the street as firefighters battled the blaze.

She said she smelled burned wire, but didn’t see any smoke until a neighbor downstairs yelled a warning to her.

Watch the Sunday Night Fire Department Press Conference

Ms. Rollins said she tried to save her dog, a “pit bull”-type puppy, but was unable to retrieve the dog. She left her house wearing pajama pants and without any socks or her inhaler.

Her neighbor Tracy Bishop, another tenant of the building, said her apartment is behind a garage, and she heard the garage door open and shut.

“And then all of a sudden I look up and there’s fire. I’m like ‘Oh my God’ the place is on fire,” Ms. Bishop said.

She called out to Ms. Rollins, who lives above her, to leave the building because she saw flames near her ceiling.

“It wasn’t just smoke, it was fire,” Ms. Bishop said, adding later, “My whole livelihood is in there.”

Online: Toledo Fire Rescue Web Site | TFR on Facebook | Toledo IAFF 92

Lucas County records show the two-story, mixed residential and commercial building has been owned by Ray and Mariam Abouarab since 1992, when the sale price was $36,000. Its current value is $101,500. The primary structure was built in 1877, according to county records.

Several fires have been reported at the 137-year-old North Toledo building several times over the past two decades — including in December, 1996, December, 1998, and September, 2002.

Six residential units are located adjacent to and behind the Huron Market carryout. The owner, who watched firefighters work to put out the fire, said seven people lived in the units and none were injured. He said he recently spent about $2,500 to fix the plumbing on the residential side after this month’s deep freeze caused problems.

Another apartment building Mr. Abouarab owned caught fire twice within in a six-month period a decade ago. That five-unit complex at 809 North Huron St. – which Mr. Abouarab sold in 2007, according to county records – was on fire in August, 2002, and again in January, 2003.

The rear of an adjacent structure was badly damaged in Sunday’s fire.

Toledo firefighters, some still dressed in turn-out gear, crowded an ambulance drop-off lobby inside Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center on Sunday night, hours after two of their own were rushed there.

Toledo fire paramedics, responding to other emergency calls at other locations, continued to bring patients to the hospital. Calls for service don’t stop for heartbreak.

Dozens of firefighters gathered at their union hall downtown Sunday evening. The room was silent and many in the crowd stood with somber faces, drinking coffee while awaiting official news – although all already knew that two of their own had been killed in the line of duty.

Dan Desmond, Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Vice President, said he knew the two fallen firefighters, but couldn’t talk about them.

“Everyone is just numb right now,” said Mr. Desmond, a longtime firefighter.

Firefighters and police officers remained at scene of the fatal fire for hours after the blaze. Investigators could be seen moving inside the building. Toledo fire investigator Glen Frames declined to comment on the investigation or the cause of the fire.

A Toledo fire fighter outside of 528 Magnolia. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER, Republished with Permission — A Toledo fire fighter outside of 528 Magnolia.
THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER, Republished with Permission

Former Toledo Mayor Mike Bell who was the city’s fire chief from 1990 to 2007 and the state fire marshal from then until just before starting his first mayoral campaign, could not be reached for comment.

The American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio helped six adults and two children, including occupants of the nearby structure, find a place to stay Sunday.

Staff Writers Taylor Dungjen and Ignazio Messina contributed to this report.

The Blade Photos and Article Republished with Permission

Additional Details Units had heavy fire on the “addition” in the rear, both floors. Moments before command recommended going to defensive operations and suggested one of the initial units leave the building, a Mayday was called. “Get out of the structure, let’s take a defensive approach,” command reported. Seconds later, a Mayday was called, tones were sounded and the rapid intervention team went into action. RIT crews battled significant heat conditions to locate the firefighters.

The two deaths are the fifth and sixth reported in the Line of Duty this year, according to USFA statistics. The losses were the first multi-LODD since 19 Hotshot firefighters died in Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. The last Toledo firefighter who died in the line of duty was Michael Darrington, 45, in February 2009. He passed away from natural causes after being found unresponsive in the fire station, WNWO/NorthwestOhio.com reported.

ToledoNewsNow.com: News, Weather