09-28-2025, 08:36 PM
The Kilgore Tragedy and Its Lessons in Safety Protocols
In January 2009, two firefighters from Kilgore, Texas—Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins—lost their lives during a training exercise involving a newly delivered 95-foot mid-mount aerial platform truck. The drill was intended to familiarize the crew with the equipment, but a critical safety measure was overlooked: none of the four firefighters in the elevated platform were wearing harnesses.
The platform had been raised to the roofline of an eight-story college dormitory. During the maneuver, it became lodged against the concrete parapet wall. As the crew attempted to free the platform, the top edge of the wall gave way. The sudden release caused the aerial ladder to recoil violently, whipping back and forth. Two firefighters were ejected from the platform and fell approximately 80 feet to their deaths.
Terminology Notes
Following the incident, the family of Cory Galloway filed a lawsuit against the truck manufacturer E-One Incorporated, the apparatus dealer Hallmark Apparatus of Texas, and the City of Kilgore. The suit alleged that the truck was delivered without safety harnesses and that the firefighters were placed in a high-risk scenario with minimal training. The legal action raised broader questions about liability in equipment delivery, training standards, and municipal oversight.
While some argued that the manufacturer should have included harnesses, others pointed out that safety gear is not universally bundled with apparatus purchases. Moreover, harnesses are not one-size-fits-all and require proper fitting and instruction. The core issue, many agreed, was operational negligence—allowing personnel to engage in elevated training without mandatory fall protection.
Anecdote from the Field
In 2011, a fire department in Michigan revised its training protocols after reviewing the Kilgore case. They mandated that all aerial platform exercises include harnesses, even during dry runs. A senior captain recalled that prior to the change, harnesses were optional and rarely used. After the policy shift, the department invested in adjustable harness kits and conducted quarterly fall protection drills. Since then, no fall-related injuries have occurred during training.
Recommendations for Fire Departments and Equipment Suppliers
The deaths of Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins were not the result of equipment failure, but of procedural oversight and missing safeguards. Their loss underscores the importance of embedding safety into every aspect of training—especially when working at height. In firefighting, courage is essential, but so is caution. Harnesses may seem like a small detail, but they are the difference between risk and tragedy. Every platform raised without one is a gamble no department should take.
In January 2009, two firefighters from Kilgore, Texas—Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins—lost their lives during a training exercise involving a newly delivered 95-foot mid-mount aerial platform truck. The drill was intended to familiarize the crew with the equipment, but a critical safety measure was overlooked: none of the four firefighters in the elevated platform were wearing harnesses.
The platform had been raised to the roofline of an eight-story college dormitory. During the maneuver, it became lodged against the concrete parapet wall. As the crew attempted to free the platform, the top edge of the wall gave way. The sudden release caused the aerial ladder to recoil violently, whipping back and forth. Two firefighters were ejected from the platform and fell approximately 80 feet to their deaths.
Terminology Notes
- Aerial Platform: A hydraulically operated lift mounted on a fire truck, used for elevated rescue and firefighting.
- Parapet Wall: A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, often made of concrete or masonry.
- Fall Protection Harness: A safety device worn by personnel working at height, designed to arrest falls and prevent ejection.
- NIOSH: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, responsible for investigating workplace fatalities and issuing safety recommendations.
Following the incident, the family of Cory Galloway filed a lawsuit against the truck manufacturer E-One Incorporated, the apparatus dealer Hallmark Apparatus of Texas, and the City of Kilgore. The suit alleged that the truck was delivered without safety harnesses and that the firefighters were placed in a high-risk scenario with minimal training. The legal action raised broader questions about liability in equipment delivery, training standards, and municipal oversight.
While some argued that the manufacturer should have included harnesses, others pointed out that safety gear is not universally bundled with apparatus purchases. Moreover, harnesses are not one-size-fits-all and require proper fitting and instruction. The core issue, many agreed, was operational negligence—allowing personnel to engage in elevated training without mandatory fall protection.
Anecdote from the Field
In 2011, a fire department in Michigan revised its training protocols after reviewing the Kilgore case. They mandated that all aerial platform exercises include harnesses, even during dry runs. A senior captain recalled that prior to the change, harnesses were optional and rarely used. After the policy shift, the department invested in adjustable harness kits and conducted quarterly fall protection drills. Since then, no fall-related injuries have occurred during training.
Recommendations for Fire Departments and Equipment Suppliers
- Include fall protection gear in all aerial platform deliveries
- Require harness use during any elevated training, regardless of duration or perceived risk
- Conduct hands-on harness fitting and fall arrest training for all personnel
- Install visual reminders and signage on platforms indicating mandatory harness zones
- Review NIOSH reports and integrate findings into local SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
- Assign a safety officer to oversee all training exercises
- Use checklists to verify harness use before platform elevation
- Implement a zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance with fall protection
- Maintain a log of training hours and gear inspections
- Encourage open reporting of near-misses and safety concerns
The deaths of Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins were not the result of equipment failure, but of procedural oversight and missing safeguards. Their loss underscores the importance of embedding safety into every aspect of training—especially when working at height. In firefighting, courage is essential, but so is caution. Harnesses may seem like a small detail, but they are the difference between risk and tragedy. Every platform raised without one is a gamble no department should take.
