United States Fire Administration
7 September 2021
EMMITSBURG, Maryland – The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Firefighter James Heater, 32, of Orange County Emergency Services District No.1 on 3 September 2021.
While on-duty, Firefighter James Heater contracted COVID-19 from responding to numerous emergency medical calls. He passed away from the virus on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.
Age: 32
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: August 22, 2021
Date of death: September 3, 2021
Cause of death: Exposure
Nature of death: Covid-19
Activity type: EMS/Patient Care
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Non-Fire
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2021 currently is 84.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”