NEW JERSEY & CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTER LINE OF DUTY DEATHS (Medical)
We regret to pass on the following Firefighter LODD’s:
NEW JERSEY:
On April 10, Firefighter William Gerace was advancing hose line during mandatory live burn training when he suffered a spiral fracture to his right fibula. On April 28, Firefighter Gerace’s spouse contacted 911 from his residence as Firefighter Gerace was showing signs of severe respiratory difficulty. Upon the arrival of emergency services, Firefighter Gerace stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. He was immediately transported to a local hospital with EMS performing CPR. CPR was continued at the hospital and, after approximately 20 minutes, doctors pronounced him deceased. Autopsy results showed that he suffered a pulmonary embolism, which was directly attributed to being a complication of his initial leg fracture and recovery process.
CALIFORNIA:
On April 28, Los Angeles Fire Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd, 55, suffered a medical emergency while on-duty driving in a fire department vehicle near Downtown Los Angeles. He was transported to California Hospital Medical Center by a Los Angeles Fire Department Rescue Ambulance. All efforts to revive him, however, were not successful.
DALLAS FIRE RESCUE SHOOTING UPDATE:
The injured Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedic is stable, but remains in critical condition and was moved to the ICU after undergoing surgery. He will need additional surgeries and extensive medical treatment to fully recover-but its all good news at this point!
The injured paramedic is reported to be William An. He is based out of Station 19, where firefighters are highly-trained members of the Urban Search and Rescue Unit.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The initial shooting was sparked by a dispute between neighbors about 1130 hours. That DFR medic was the first to respond to the shooting call and began providing medical treatment upon arrival. A short time later the medic himself was under fire.
The gunman, Derick Lamont Brown, then fled before holing up in a house where he fatally shot another person before killing himself.
Responding Dallas Police Officers found the paramedic and the civilian injured, and took fire from the suspect as they approached. Sgt. Robert Watson, arrived as officers were still maintaining cover — because the shooter was still at large — and rushed in to pull the injured paramedic to safety. He went in alone and he pulled the paramedic out, placed him in his squad car and drove him to Baylor hospital. Outstanding.
Prayers continue for Dallas and our condolences to all those affected by the NJ & CA losses. Rest In Peace.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 5/2/2017-1500 Hours
