Pompano Beach Firefighter Dies After Falling 90 Feet From Ladder

A Pompano Beach firefighter died after falling 90 feet from a ladder during a training exercise Friday.

Pompano Beach spokeswoman Sandra King said William Elliott, 50, was doing ladder training when the accident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. at 2121 NW 3rd Ave. The 23-year veteran firefighter EMT was rushed to the North Broward Medical Center.

It is the first on-the-job death in the Pompano Beach fire department's history, Fire Chief Harry Small said.

Elliott's firefighting brothers were at the hospital in full force, giving each other strength after their sudden loss.

"It happened in a flash and he was gone," Small said. "It's a death in our family and we're suffering right now. It's tough. "

Elliott had been with Pompano Beach Fire Rescue since 1989. Small, who knew him for two decades, said he was at the top of a 90-foot ladder during basic ladder training – an exercise meant to prepare firefighters for high-stress situations in a controlled environment. Elliott had done the training many times before he fell to his death Friday.

The chief said he does not believe any violations were made. Elliott was harnessed in, he said.

"He was hooked in and unhooked to come down and that's where something happened. And that's what we have to investigate," Small said.

Lamar Fischer, the mayor of Pompano Beach, said he knew Elliott, and that he is touched by the response of other cities as they do what they can for Pompano Beach now.

"The chief of Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale here, the sherrif has loaned us four units to cover our area as we allow other crew to go home," Fischer said.

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