The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Fire Chief Walter M. Summerville III, 55, of the Kernersville Fire Rescue Department on November 7, 2012.
Fire Chief Summerville responded with his fire department to a triple shooting incident. Near the end of the incident, Summerville complained to fellow firefighters that he didn’t feel well and went to sit in one of the department vehicles while the incident finished up. The following day while at work, Chief Summerville complained again to coworkers that he still did not feel well and departed work early for home. A short time later, Summerville was discovered by a family member passed away from an apparent heart attack.
Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Walter M. Summerville III at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
To date, 71 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm
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