IRC Fire BC David Dangerfield
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Our fire service family is completely heart broken over the loss of one of our most deeply respected, highly trained and incredibly beloved chiefs. Battalion Chief David Dangerfield took his own life Saturday night leaving behind two sons, Christopher and Bryce, his parents and his loving family. He left a very telling Facebook post, written just hours before his death, that speaks volumes:
“PTSD for Firefighters is real. If your loved one is experiencing signs get them help quickly. 27 years of deaths and babies dying in your hands is a memory that you will never get rid off. It haunted me daily until now. My love to my crews. Be safe , take care. I love you all.” --
David Dangerfield on Facebook
With his family’s blessing, we cannot ignore David’s last known words. PTSD is becoming more widely recognized as a major issue amongst firefighters, even though it has always existed. We as a fire service family are working hard to break the stigma attached to asking for help. We can only hope that David’s passing will remind those in pain to seek help before it’s too late.
According to the IAFF (International Association of Firefighters):
“PTSD is a serious and chronic condition that can ruin the careers of fire fighters and paramedics, destroy families and jeopardize public and fire fighter safety. According to the Journal of Occupational Health, approximately 20 percent of fire fighters and paramedics have PTSD.1
Furthermore, according a 2015 Florida State University study, nearly half of the fire fighters surveyed (46.8 percent) have thought about suicide, 19.2 percent had suicide plans and 15.5 percent had made suicide attempts.2 In fact, those with PTSD are six times more likely to attempt suicide compared to demographically matched controls.”
From: Firefighters Calling 9-1-1, August 16, 2016
http://www.fireengineering.com/content/dam/fe/online-articles/documents/2016/iaff-ptsd-cancer-8-16.pdf
Chief Dangerfield’s career with Indian River County Fire Rescue spanned 27 years of dedicated service since 1989. These are just some his accomplishments below:
· Currently held the rank of Batallion Chief at Station 8 in Sebastian, North County
2013 Treasure Coast Fire Chief's Award for Emergency Service Provider of the Year
Minimum Fire Standards Instructor at Indian River State College Fire Academy
· Field Training Officer for the Indian River County Fire Rescue Dive Team
Trained Dive Teams across the country on Diver Safety and was deployed fighting wildfires in Colorado and other areas
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Dive Instructor
International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists – IADRS
Volunteer for the Big Heart Brigade during Thanksgiving feeding hungry families
Participated in national St. Baldrick's campaign shaving his head to raise money for Child Cancer Awareness
Co-founder / President of Wounded Warrior Charitable Foundation of Indian River to work with veterans
Creator/Organizer for ten years of the Indian River County Firefighters’ Charity Chili Cook-off; proceeds went to CCR (Child Care Resources) and Firefighter's charities
Created the Florida Outdoors Expo which brought national attention when he featured John Godwin from Duck Dynasty and Paul Bedard from Gator Boys
Son of retired Vero Beach Police Department Animal Control Officer Bruce Dangerfield
Volunteered his assistance for wildlife talks with his father and son for the Humane Society
Treasured teacher, mentor and brother to every Fire Rescue team member he met
As national Fire Rescue DIVE Training expert, Chief Dangerfield was recently interviewed by the Vero News about the dangers, horrors and realities of the job of working as a firefighter on a Dive Rescue and Recovery Team.
http://www.veronews.com/blogs/my_vero/my-vero-dive-team-members-are-very-special-breed/article_d34f1c62-4e52-11e4-ab48-001a4bcf6878.html
Funds will be used for funeral expenses and the remainder will go to Christopher and Bryce, who are interested in starting a PTSD assistance program in David's honor.
We as a fire service family are so deeply saddened by this loss. The family is asking for privacy at this time. Anyone with questions, please contact: Indian River County Fire Rescue
“PTSD for Firefighters is real. If your loved one is experiencing signs get them help quickly. 27 years of deaths and babies dying in your hands is a memory that you will never get rid off. It haunted me daily until now. My love to my crews. Be safe , take care. I love you all.” --
David Dangerfield on Facebook
With his family’s blessing, we cannot ignore David’s last known words. PTSD is becoming more widely recognized as a major issue amongst firefighters, even though it has always existed. We as a fire service family are working hard to break the stigma attached to asking for help. We can only hope that David’s passing will remind those in pain to seek help before it’s too late.
According to the IAFF (International Association of Firefighters):
“PTSD is a serious and chronic condition that can ruin the careers of fire fighters and paramedics, destroy families and jeopardize public and fire fighter safety. According to the Journal of Occupational Health, approximately 20 percent of fire fighters and paramedics have PTSD.1
Furthermore, according a 2015 Florida State University study, nearly half of the fire fighters surveyed (46.8 percent) have thought about suicide, 19.2 percent had suicide plans and 15.5 percent had made suicide attempts.2 In fact, those with PTSD are six times more likely to attempt suicide compared to demographically matched controls.”
From: Firefighters Calling 9-1-1, August 16, 2016
http://www.fireengineering.com/content/dam/fe/online-articles/documents/2016/iaff-ptsd-cancer-8-16.pdf
Chief Dangerfield’s career with Indian River County Fire Rescue spanned 27 years of dedicated service since 1989. These are just some his accomplishments below:
· Currently held the rank of Batallion Chief at Station 8 in Sebastian, North County
2013 Treasure Coast Fire Chief's Award for Emergency Service Provider of the Year
Minimum Fire Standards Instructor at Indian River State College Fire Academy
· Field Training Officer for the Indian River County Fire Rescue Dive Team
Trained Dive Teams across the country on Diver Safety and was deployed fighting wildfires in Colorado and other areas
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Dive Instructor
International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists – IADRS
Volunteer for the Big Heart Brigade during Thanksgiving feeding hungry families
Participated in national St. Baldrick's campaign shaving his head to raise money for Child Cancer Awareness
Co-founder / President of Wounded Warrior Charitable Foundation of Indian River to work with veterans
Creator/Organizer for ten years of the Indian River County Firefighters’ Charity Chili Cook-off; proceeds went to CCR (Child Care Resources) and Firefighter's charities
Created the Florida Outdoors Expo which brought national attention when he featured John Godwin from Duck Dynasty and Paul Bedard from Gator Boys
Son of retired Vero Beach Police Department Animal Control Officer Bruce Dangerfield
Volunteered his assistance for wildlife talks with his father and son for the Humane Society
Treasured teacher, mentor and brother to every Fire Rescue team member he met
As national Fire Rescue DIVE Training expert, Chief Dangerfield was recently interviewed by the Vero News about the dangers, horrors and realities of the job of working as a firefighter on a Dive Rescue and Recovery Team.
http://www.veronews.com/blogs/my_vero/my-vero-dive-team-members-are-very-special-breed/article_d34f1c62-4e52-11e4-ab48-001a4bcf6878.html
Funds will be used for funeral expenses and the remainder will go to Christopher and Bryce, who are interested in starting a PTSD assistance program in David's honor.
We as a fire service family are so deeply saddened by this loss. The family is asking for privacy at this time. Anyone with questions, please contact: Indian River County Fire Rescue
Organizer and beneficiary
Kyle Kofke
Organizer
Vero Beach, FL
Christopher Dangerfield
Beneficiary
