First Responder Pays Ultimate Price Bruce Britt

USA Firefighter Loses Life Trying To Save Others

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI  A veteran of the Columbia, Missouri, fire fighting team was killed during a rescue on Saturday, February 22nd, 2014.

According to the incident report, "while working to evacuate students from a university residence apartment building, Lieutenant Britt died of injuries sustained when he became entangled in debris after the collapse of a portion of the building's elevated walkway."

Another walkway decays at University Village Apartments
Photo credit Andrew Schriver, the Missourian

Bruce Britt, a 23 year veteran fire fighter paid the ultimate price while trying to save lives.  According to reports, the walkway collapsed at a University of Missouri apartment building around 4:45 a.m.  Britt was attempting rescue of residents trapped after a portion of the second story walkway collapsed.  Britt was on a dangling piece of the structure that remained when it, too, fell to the ground.  Britt was declared dead at the scene.

University Village Apartments
Photo Credit Andrew Schriver, the Missourian

The University has been considering repairs and renovation of the University Village Apartments since 2008.  However, funding has not been available.  The apartments provided inexpensive student housing close to campus classrooms.  According to University of Missouri information, a two bedroom can be rented for as little as $504 per month.

After the accident, engineers inspected other walkways and placed wooden support beams as a precautionary measure.  Residents may be allowed to return to gather things from their apartments located at 601 South Providence Road, Columbia, Missouri, depending on whether the building is considered safe enough to enter.

University Village Apartments
Credit University of Missouri

Fire Department: Columbia Fire Department
Address: 201 Orr ST, Columbia, MO 65201
Fire Department Chief: Charles P. Witt, Jr.

US Fire Fighters Memorial


Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Bruce Britt at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

To date, 18 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2014.  Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/fatalityData/statistics.

Sources in reports from the U.S. Fire Administration, the AP and the Missourian were relied upon in writing this story.