U.S. Fire Administration

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official line of duty death of Battalion Chief Tommy Lee Adams, 51, of the Shreveport Fire Department on December 12, 2009.

Chief Adams fell from a fire department ladder truck following the Crew of Gemini Mardi Gras parade earlier this year.

At the end of the parade route, the fire trucks pulled to the side of the road to secure any loose empty boxes that held beads or cups. While clearing debris and boxes from the ladder truck, Adams fell approximately 10 feet, landing head first on the concrete roadway.

Chief Adams’ heart stopped and CPR was performed. Chief Adams was transported to Willis Knighton Pierremont hospital where he regained a heart rate, and his condition was listed as critical. He suffered fractures to his cervical (neck) spine and was placed on a breathing machine. In early March, Chief Adams was transferred to a rehab facility in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chief Adams had been in a relative state of a coma since sustaining debilitating injuries as a result of this accident and passed away on December 12.

Funeral Arrangements:
December 16, 2009, arrangements will be announced from Chief Crawford's Office as soon as they are available (http://www.shreveportla.gov/dept/fire/index.asp).

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:
Pending

Tribute is being paid to Battalion Chief Tommy Lee Adams at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 86 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2009; 83 from incidents that occurred in 2009 and three from previous year incidents. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats....

Related
Shreveport Battalion Chief Succumbs to Injuries from Fall