A Flanders Fire & Rescue Company (Mt Olive Township, Morris County, NJ) Officer died in the Line of Duty today after responding on a run at Mountainview Elementary School. The death of Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Shields, 42, is being called the first line-of-duty death for the Flanders fire company since 1927.
The husband and father of two responded to the school because a student reportedly became overheated. The child was fine and Chief Shields returned to the firehouse and then headed home, feeling ill. He told his wife he was having chest pains, EMS responded but tragically Chief Shields died at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville. As always our most sincere condolences to all affected by this loss. HERE is their webpage: http://www.flandersfire.org/home
