United States Fire Administration
4 October 2021
EMMITSBURG, Maryland – The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Engineer Mark Gillam, 58, of the Elwood Fire Department on 3 October 2021.
On Aug. 21, 2021, while on duty, Engineer Mark Gillam provided medical care to patients for a 12-hour period during a local festival. On Aug. 25, 2021, Gillam became sick with symptoms. Because his symptoms worsened, Gillam went to the hospital on Aug. 30, 2021, where he tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted. Gillam was eventually placed on a ventilator and put into a medically induced coma but passed away from complications of the virus on Oct. 3, 2021.
Age: 58
Rank: Engineer
Classification: Career
Incident date: August 21, 2021
Date of death: October 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: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2021 currently is 104.
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.”
Data Not Drama 