WAKE COUNTY - Eastern Wake firefighter Todd Alan Blanchard, 31, died early Thursday morning from injuries suffered at a fire at Turnipseed Road and Major Slade Road in the unincorporated Knightdale area. According to fire officials, a massive tree at that intersection was struck by lightning at approximately 5:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters responded, applied water, and, when the fire appeared to be out, left the scene. Blanchard was one member of a three-firefighter crew that returned to the scene at 12:42 a.m. Thursday in response to a report that the tree was still smoldering. The crew applied water to the smoldering area, and then approached the tree to examine that smoldering area more closely.
As the crew walked toward the tree, a limb estimated to be 2.5 feet in diameter broke and fell. Blanchard was struck by the limb. He was wearing full personal protective equipment at the time of the accident. The two firefighters who responded with Blanchard managed to remove the limb, and began CPR when they determined that Blanchard’s breathing and heart had stopped. Eastern Wake EMS paramedics arrived at the scene, initiated advanced life support treatment and transported Blanchard to WakeMed hospital. Paramedic and hospital efforts to revive Blanchard were unsuccessful. A line-of-duty firefighter death is investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the North Carolina Department of Labor’s occupational health and safety staff, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Eastern Wake fire officials initiated this process before 6:00 a.m. Thursday. Blanchard had worked as a full-time firefighter for Eastern Wake Fire Department for approximately two years. He was previously a member of the Garner Fire Department. Surviving Blanchard are his parents, two daughters and a fiancé. Blanchard and his fiancé, a Garner EMS paramedic, were planning an October wedding. Funeral arrangements are being handled by L. Harold Poole Funeral Service and Crematory, 944 Old Knight Road in Knightdale, 266-3646. Out-of-town arrangements are being handled by Kostanski Funeral Home Inc., 220 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. Phone: (413) 773-9515. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to a fund for his children, Jessika Lin Blanchard and Ryan Marie Blanchard. The Educational Trust Fund is care of First Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 549, Knightdale, NC 27545. Wake County's last line-of-duty firefighter death occurred on April 7, 1993, when Garner Fire Department member Patrick J. Dougherty, 37, collapsed during salvage operations at a house fire. Memorial Service The memorial service for Eastern Wake firefighter Todd Blanchard will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh. The address is 228 West Edenton Street. View map. Attending fire apparatus are requested to stage at Eastern Wake Fire Department Station 1 at 4828 Clifton Road for a 3:00 p.m. departure to downtown Raleigh. View map. Black bunting is required for apparatus and black shields are required for firefighter badges. There will be no visitation. Firefighters can return to the fire station after the service for food provided by the fire department. Memorial service: Saturday, July 16, 2005 5:00 PM Edenton Street United Methodist Church 228 Edenton Street (downtown near the high-rise Holiday Inn) Raleigh, NC 27603 View map Staging for the procession: Saturday, July 16, 2005 3:00 PM Eastern Wake Fire Station 1 4828 Clifton Road (at Poole Road) Knightdale, NC View map All apparatus planning to participate in the processional from the station to the church should plan to be in line for the drive when directed. Black bunting cover is requested for each apparatus and black covers for department shields should be worn to show support of the grief the family and department is experiencing. Food will be provided by the fire department and firefighters are welcomed at the Eastern Wake Fire Station 1 for anyone choosing to return following the memorial service. There will be no funeral home (director) services provided, but the memorial service will be under the procedural direction of Chaplain Gene Moore, NCFFF. He will be assisted by Eastern Wake Fire Department members and North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board members.

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