Montgomery County Firefighter Dies After Collapsing At Fire: Reports

LAUREL, MD — A Montgomery County firefighter died after suffering a medical emergency while fighting a fire in Prince George's County on Saturday, according to reports.

The 46-year-old firefighter collapsed at the scene of the house fire in Laurel, NBC Washington reported. He was a 22-year veteran of the fire company and worked in the Burtonsville station, the report said.

Montgomery County firefighters were called in about 5 p.m. to provide mutual aid at the fire on the 15000 block of Bradford Drive, Bethesda Magazine reported.

The magazine report said crews gave the firefighter CPR at the scene before the firefighter was taken to Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, where he died.

The firefighter's name was not released because there were still additional notifications being made to family, Montgomery County Fire Chief Corey Smedley said, according to a WUSA9 report.

The cause of the firefighter's death was not released. An autopsy by the chief medical examiner's office in Baltimore will be conducted to determine the official cause.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who spoke at a news conference at the hospital, said he had met with the firefighter's family to offer his condolences, DC News Now reported.

"We make it through difficult times because we have to, and we will make it through this," Elrich said, according to that report. "We have reassured our firefighters that we will always be there, that we know when we send them out, we know the risk they take, and they need to know that the county stands behind them."

Prince George's County Acting Executive Tara H. Jackson offered condolences to the Montgomery County Fire Department and the firefighter's family in a statement posted to social media.

"Prince George’s County is saddened by the sudden death of a Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services firefighter, who collapsed while operating on the scene of a residential house fire in Prince George’s County," she wrote. "We are proud of the robust mutual aid agreements with our surrounding jurisdictions, as over 50 firefighters from Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Howard County worked together on this incident."

"Prince George’s County will continue to support the needs of our firefighters, the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services, and our other public safety partners during this difficult time," Jackson wrote. "On behalf of Prince George’s County, I offer our condolences to the family of the fallen firefighter and continued prayers for the health and safety of all our first responders."

Fire companies from all over Maryland posted messages on social media offering condolences to the Montgomery County Fire Department on the loss of their colleague.

"The Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company sends our thoughts and prayers to Our Brothers and Sisters in the Montgomery County Fire Department, Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, and the Family of the Firefighter who was tragically lost in the Line of Duty this evening," the Ferndale company, out of Anne Arundel County, wrote. "As first responders we understand the risk but always hope that everyone makes it home. Our heart felt condolences to everyone involved."

Prince Fredrick County, Branchville Volunteer Fire Company, West Annapolis Fire Company and other groups, including firefighter unions and professional organizations, posted similar messages.

"It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest condolences to our neighbors in Montgomery County Fire & Rescue and to the family, friends and colleagues of a fallen hero," the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company wrote. "We unfortunately know only too well here in Loudoun the pain of losing a fellow first responder and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Rest in peace Brother."