Firefighter Dies While Battling Blaze In RivCo: Officials

PERRIS, CA — A firefighter died Wednesday while battling a blaze in Riverside County, officials said.

Engineer Daniel Cook was helping fight a blaze at a single-story family home in Nuevo, just east of Perris, around 5:17 a.m., when he suffered a medical emergency, according to the Riverside County Fire Department, CAL FIRE and a report by KTLA5.

Fire personnel at the scene reacted immediately and began life-saving measures, authorities said. Cook was taken to a local hospital, where he died, fire officials said. It's unclear what kind of medical emergency Cook suffered.

"Engineer Cook's passing is a devastating loss to our department, the fire service and the community he served with dedication and professionalism," CAL FIRE and the Riverside County Fire Department said in a statement Wednesday." His commitment to duty and service will not be forgotten."

The agencies also extended their condolences to Cook's family and loved ones. Peer support and critical incident stress management resources are available for department members. Funeral arrangements will be shared at a later date when information becomes available, authorities said.

"Please keep Engineer Cook and his family in your thoughts," the agencies said.