United States Fire Administration
7 July 2025
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Firefighter Lee Kraus, 52, of the St. Louis Fire Department on 1 July 2025.
On June 29, 2025, Firefighter Lee Kraus suffered a medical emergency after responding to several calls and while still on duty. Firefighter Kraus was transported to the hospital. Despite the lifesaving efforts of first responders and medical professionals, Firefighter Kraus passed away at the hospital on July 1, 2025, from a reported cardiovascular event.
Age: 52
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: June 29, 2025
Date of death: July 1, 2025
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Cardiovascular Event/Heart Attack
Activity type: In-Station Duties
Emergency duty: No
Duty type: Other On-Duty
Fixed property use: N/A
The number of on-duty deaths for 2025 is currently 43.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2025.
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.”
Photo courtesy of Dignity Memorial.
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