Firefighter Dies During Training

Green Country firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own.  28-year-old volunteer firefighter Rusty Topping died after finishing a training exercise in Stillwater on Saturday.  The News On 6's Chris Wright reports his death is the first in the 70 year history of the OSU Fire Service Training Center, and investigators are taking steps they hope will ensure that it is the last.

Rusty Topping, a member of the Barnsdall Rural Fire Department, was only days away from reaching a life-long goal.

"He was like his dad and his father-in-law, they're firefighters.  That's all Rusty wanted to do was be a firefighter," said Dewey Fire Chief Tom Smith.

Dewey Fire Chief Tom Smith grew up with Rusty's father, and was helping help the 28-year-old during his training.  As one of his final tests before becoming certified, Rusty took part in a live burn exercise.

He was not hurt during the exercise, but he collapsed and was found dead 45 minutes after it ended.  Investigators will now try to figure out exactly what happened.

Officials say that even one death during training is unacceptable, and pending the results of this investigation, it may lead to sweeping changes in how firefighters across the state are trained.

"We intend to change the face of training of firefighters in the state of Oklahoma beginning today," said Chris Baien with the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association.

In particular, the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association says all live burn exercises are now under scrutiny.

 "We can't continue to train, and have people perish during training for any reason," said Chris Baien with the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association.

While fighting fires will always be inherently dangerous, Chief Smith says that preparing people for that job should not be.

"They put their lives on the line every day, doing a job that they like to do, helping people, and we do something like this in a training episode. It can't be accepted that way," said Dewey Fire Chief Tom Smith.

Rusty Topping leaves behind a wife who is five months pregnant.  The Medical Examiner's Office is performing an autopsy.  The investigation into his death will begin on Monday.

Funeral services are set for Thursday afternoon at the Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church.