SD Guard soldier killed while responding to Tilford house fire
RAPID CITY, S.D. – A South Dakota National Guard soldier was killed Sept. 7 while responding to a house fire in Tilford as a member of the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department.
Staff Sgt. David Fischer, 43, of Sturgis, a survey team member with the Rapid City-based 82nd Civil Support Team, was killed Friday while battling the fire with the SVFD and local first-responder agencies.
Fischer served as the SVFD assistant chief and was a 22-year member of the department.
“The South Dakota National Guard family, along with the firefighting and first-responder community, are mourning the tragic loss of Staff Sgt. David Fischer who died in the line of duty protecting his community,” said Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general of the SDNG. “Our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family during this difficult time.”
Fischer, a 23-year veteran of the SDNG, leaves behind a wife and seven children. Fischer is an Iraq war veteran and deployed with the 216th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting Team) in 2004-2005.
“David exemplified what it means to be a soldier, firefighter and first responder – a self-less person willing to put his life in danger to help and defend his community, state and nation,” said Reisch. “He will be deeply missed.”
“Staff Sgt. Fischer was an original member of the 82nd Civil Support Team when it became a full-time unit in 2005 and instrumental in standing up the team,” said Lt. Col. Dale Gadbois, 82nd CST commander. “He was one of the finest soldiers I knew who would help anyone and everyone in times of need. From the beginning it was obvious he put his service before himself and paid the ultimate price rushing in to help the community in an emergency. It was an honor to have served with him the past 13 years.”
Funeral services are pending at this time and will be announced at a later date.
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A local firefighter died Friday afternoon while fighting a structure fire and searching for an unaccounted for person during a blaze in the Tilford area.
As the structure burned, the fire moved to a nearby propane tank, causing it to explode. A firefighter was killed in the explosion.
A Meade County Sheriff's deputy was also transported to the hospital while fighting the fire and a civilian remains unaccounted for, according to Rapid City Fire Department Lt. Jim Bussell.
Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched just after 4 p.m. to the small community of Tilford between Rapid City and Sturgis for a report of a structure fire.
When firefighters arrived they found the structure fully involved and the fire was spreading to other outbuildings in the area. Crews continued to fight the blaze late Friday night.
Bussell said one firefighter "died in the line of duty," while fighting the blaze and a Meade County Sheriff's Deputy was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There is also one civilian who is unaccounted for at this time.
No information is being released about the deceased firefighter on Friday in order to first notify their family.
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Bussell said the initial structure is completely destroyed along with several outbuildings, but fire crews don't have an accurate number on the full scope of the damage because crews are still working to fight the fire.
The fire crews had to deal with downed power lines, several propane tanks and other dangers while fighting this fire.
Several agencies have been called in to investigate the fire, including the ATF, but citizens shouldn't draw conclusions from the agencies involved, according to Bussell.
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"With a fire of this size and scope, including a fatality, it's common for these types of agencies to be called in," Bussell said.
The cause is unknown at this time.
Bussell is acting as the Public Information Officer on the fire and is speaking for multiple agencies responding to the fire.
More information is expected to be released Saturday morning after a 9 a.m. press briefing.
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Firefighter's name released from Tilford propane explosion
September 10, 2018
By ALYSSA HENSRUD
Photos By DOMINIK DAUSCH
TILFORD, S.D. -
The latest on a propane explosion in Tilford, S.D.
Sept. 8
Just after 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of a structure fire in the community of Tilford, S.D.
A large column of smoke was visible for several miles. When firefighters arrived on the scene, a single family dwelling was fully engulfed with several outbuildings threatened and involved, including several propane tanks.
Residents in the area were evacuated and additional resources summoned from nearby area fire departments.
As firefighters were briefing the additional support on the scene and searching for an unaccounted person who was last seen in the involved residential structure, a nearby propane tank experienced a "catastrophic failure" and ruptured. Resulting in a large explosion.
As a result of this explosion, a firefighter was killed when shrapnel penetrated through his personal protective equipment. A deputy sheriff was also injured.
The firefighter who passed in the fire has been identified as 43-year-old David Fischer of Sturgis. Fischer, a 22-year firefighting veteran served as the Assistant Chief to the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department at the time of his passing. In addition to his service to the Sturgis community as a firefighter and EMT, Fischer served his country as a member of the 82nd Civil Support Team with the South Dakota National Guard. He leaves behind a wife and family.
The deputy sheriff, whose name was not released was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He has been released and confirmed as recovering well at home.
The remains of the resident who Fischer and other firefighters were trying to locate at the time of the explosion have been found and identified as 82-year-old Raymond Joseph Bachmeier of Tilford.
As of 9 a.m. Saturday, firefighters remain on scene extinguishing remaining flames and mopping up hot spots. The main structure has been confirmed as a complete loss. The number of additional structures lost in the fire is undetermined at this time.
The cause of the fire and cause of death of Bachmeier remains under investigation with more information expected to be released from the Meade County Sheriff's Office, South Dakota Fire Marshal's Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The South Dakota Local Assistance State Team (LAST), has been requested to assist the Sturgis Fire Department with the aftermath of this tragedy.
Information from the Rapid City Fire Department
Sept. 7, 7:40 p.m.
One person was killed, one person was injured, and another person is missing after a propane explosion at a Tilford home Friday evening.
A firefighter's death was confirmed by Rapid City Fire Department Lt. Jim Bussell. He said the firefighter died from injuries sustained while fighting the fire. Specific information about the firefighter is not being released, as the family is in the process of being notified.
"This highlights the inherent dangers associated with fighting fire, and so I will just take the opportunity to ask everybody to offer their prayers and their support to firefighters," Bussell says.
A Meade County Sheriff's deputy was also injured by the fire. The deputy was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Bussell says a civilian is unaccounted for. Law enforcement and firefighters are searching for that person.
The fire is still active. So while tragedy strikes, those still at the fire must keep working.
"As you can imagine, that's a difficult proposition for the firefighters who are on scene," Bussell says.
When the Sturgis Fire Department arrived to the home on State Street just before 5 p.m., they saw it was fully engulfed. Several outbuildings were also either on fire or threatened. And other propane tanks in the area were threatened as well.
The Sturgis Fire Department began attacking the fire, requesting mutual aid resources.
The home was destroyed, along with a number of outbuildings.
Firefighters are currently having difficulty with the fire due to downed power lines and the sheer amount of available fuel.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Agencies on scene include the South Dakota State Fire Marshal's Office, the Meade County Sheriff's Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. ATF is en route.
Bussell wants it made clear - even though these agencies are involved, it shouldn't lead anyone to a conclusion as to the cause of the fire. These agencies are called anytime injuries and fatalities are associated with a fire.
In the video below, Bussell explains the situation.
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5:50 p.m.
Multiple structures are threatened as flames engulf a structure on State Street in Tilford.
Firefighters and first responders began fighting the fire around 4:40 p.m. NewsCenter1 reporter Dominik Dausch said there was "popping sounds as power lines are damaged in the fire."
A propane tank exploded few minutes later, sending flames several feet into the air, as anyone driving near Exit 40 on Interstate 90 can see.
Watch video of the explosion below.
Additional information is not available at this time. NewsCenter1 will update this article as more details become available.