Cedar Point Fire Entrapment Fatality 1928

Railroad worker Angelo Nicola "Nick" Caruso was entrapped and suffered fatal burns while attempting to suppress a fire with other railroad workers near Blairsville, Pennsylvania. The Cedar Point Fire had originated in the early afternoon of April 19, 1928, and immediately a group of railroad workers, including Caruso, rushed to assist in suppression. At about 1400, Caruso's comrades lost sight of him, and he was discovered after a quick search, lying badly burned on the ground. He was carried to a railroad automobile, and then transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken to a local doctor for initial treatment. From here he was admitted to the hospital at 1615 and at 1730 perished from his severe burns. While receiving care, Caruso had informed company officials that he had realized he was going to be entrapped and quickly climbed a tree to escape the surface fire. Soon after, the fire carried up the tree, and he dropped to the ground.