Firehouse.com

The use of a aerial ladder when a ground ladder may have been a safer choice, the absence of a helmet and potentially diminished vision were listed as key contributing factors in the death of a Rhode Island firefighter earlier this year, according to a report released by NIOSH.

Kingston Assistant Chief Allan "Pickles" LePage died on June 30, a day after suffering a severe head injury while he operated a platform aerial ladder from within the platform.

NIOSH investigators say a number of factors led to the death of a Pennsylvania firefighter last year while battling a house fire.

On March 5, Lt. Nicholas V.

NIOSH investigators cited inefficient tactics, operations and codes in the 2007 deaths of two Boston firefighters.

Warren J. Payne, 53, and Paul J. Cahill, 55, perished while battling a fire in a restaurant. The death certificate listed the causes of death for both firefighters as thermal injuries and asphyxia.

The report also notes that toxicology reports were requested but not received: "There have been media reports of alleged substance abuse that were discovered during the toxicological screening of both victims.

Amity Fire Company Firefighter Robert Stone collapsed and died the morning after responding to a call, according to the department's Web site.

Stone, 47, began complaining of chest pains on Nov. 3 after returning to the station and was transported to Reading Hospital.

After undergoing surgery at the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30 a.m. the following morning after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

A 28-year member of the Westover Area Volunteer Fire Company, Clearfield County, Westover, Pa., Station No. 45 took ill at the scene of a structure fire Saturday morning and died at a local hospital from what appears to be cardiac arrest.