While on-duty at the fire department
Mertz contracted COVID-19
United States Fire Administration
The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Captain William Christopher Mertz, 54, of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District on January 20, 2021.
Captain William Christopher Mertz, while on-duty at the fire department, contracted COVID-19. He passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from the virus.
Tribute is being paid to Captain Mertz at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, nine firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2021. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
FirefighterNation: California Captain, USAR TF 8 Original Member, Dies from COVID-19
