Fire Chief Killed in Training Exercise

[Guest]

LODD -- Chief Rowe of Elkhorn City Fire Dept., Kentucky (from Associated Press)

PIKE COUNTY

Fire Chief Killed In Accident

The fire chief of a small town in Pike County was killed during a training exercise to place snow chains on a fire truck. Jason Todd Rowe, 30, chief of the Elkhorn City Fire Department, was pronounced dead Thursday at Pikeville Medical Center.

He and other firefighters were conducting a training exercise at 7:45 p.m. EST using air lifting bags to raise the rear of the fire truck, according to state police, who where called to the scene. While they were raising the truck, one of the bags shifted, came loose and propelled toward Rowe. Rowe was struck by the bag, state police said.Elkhorn City's fire chief died Thursday after being struck by an inflatable air jack beneath a fire truck, Kentucky State Police said. 

Rowe's body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Frankfort for an autopsy, because the incident occurred on government property, Roberts said. 

He is survived by his mother and brother Robbie, who is flying home from his military station in South Korea to attend the funeral. Arrangements were pending at Bailey Funeral Home in Elkhorn City.

[Guest DADAY]

Very sad

[DOC22 1]

Very Sad, Indeed Thoughts and Prayers go out to Chief Rowe's friends and family as well as the Elkhorn City FD.

[afd65 4]

yes very sad but y were they using there air bags to lift there own truck to fix snow chains? y not a jack or something more traditional?

[Remember585 815]

Another LODD that should never have happened.

[TRUCK6018 50]

Very sad and preventable.

As far as the practice of using air bags for raising the vehicle? Never heard of it myself.

Regardless of what method is used, the vehicle must be stabalized to prevent rolling.

There's additional info www.firehouse.com:

Rowe was raising the truck with several 3-foot-square inflatable rubber cushions so chains could be put on the rear tires, Elkhorn firefighter Jack Stalker said. 

A wedge that prevents the tires from rolling came loose and caused the truck to roll forward. That caused the air bags to shift with the force of the truck and strike Rowe in the head. 

Rowe was knocked unconscious and died about 20 minutes later at Pikeville Methodist Hospital, said Stalker. 

[afd65 4]

ouch thats not good but it is a lesson for every1

[Guest irishfire]

I was just reading that on a different website it is very Sad So young

May he Rest In Peace