Dallas Fire-Rescue has developed the Lieutenant Todd Krodle Firefighter Rescue Drill to remember a fallen firefighter and improve firefighter safety. The drill simulates conditions comparable to Krodle’s deadly line-of-duty death in 2011, in order to increase rescue readiness.
The statue and training, funded in part by the Lt. Todd W. Krodle Foundation, remember Krodle while also applying lessons learned to help prevent future fatalities, according to the city of Dallas.
On August 14, 2011, Krodle and his crew proceeded to ventilate the roof of a burning apartment. The decking failed while he was traveling across the roof, causing him to fall halfway into the attic. A mayday was declared after firefighters explored the apartment below and discovered him entangled in building components and wires.
Firefighters attempted but were unable to pull him through. They then used a chainsaw to remove the joists and liberate him. Despite timely rescue efforts, Krodle died of smoke inhalation.
The drill will become an obligatory element of the department’s training curriculum, ensuring that Todd’s legacy and lessons are passed down to future firefighters.
