Captain Robert Charles Ulrich

Captain Ulrich and Firefighter Brian Burnett were responding in a tanker (tender) to a report of a brush fire. Firefighter Burnett was driving.

The tanker failed to negotiate a curve. It left the roadway and crossed into a cornfield where it rolled multiple times. Firefighter Burnett was ejected from the apparatus and it rolled over him. The apparatus came to rest on its roof with Captain Ulrich trapped inside. Both firefighters were transported to a local hospital.

Captain Ulrich was released from the intensive care unit and was seemingly recovering well while still hospitalized. He was later discovered unresponsive and pulseless. Emergency care was initiated but unsuccessfully. An autopsy revealed that he died of a cardiac arrythmia.

Firefighter Burnett died from his injuries 86 days later (January 22, 2000).