Dayton Firefighters Face Discipline For Missing A Body in Garage Fire

Three Dayton firefighters are facing discipline over a garage fire last September, when a man’s body apparently went unnoticed. Patrick Northern, 53, died in the fire. According to Montgomery County Coroner’s Officer, he died of “inhalation of products of combustion.”

Northern’s body was discovered in the garage the day after the fire. The death has been ruled accidental.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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