Battalion Chief Van Wormer passed away on Saturday evening, 10/27/2012 at 1900hrs, while on assignment in Santa Cruz from a cause still to be determined while on a work assignment in a neighboring jurisdiction.
Battalion Chief Rob Van Wormer fell ill, lost consciousness and was transported to Dominican Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 8 p.m., according to a statement from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott.
Chief Rob Van Wormer 47, had served with Cal Fire for 24 years and served as both Fire Chief and a Fire Investigator. His brother, Kirk, is a Cal Fire Battalion Chief in the Sonoma Lake-Napa Unit.
Rob Van Wormer, pictured in 1999, a Cal Fire battalion chief with the Santa Clara County unit, died Saturday evening at Dominican Hospital. (Meri Simon/Bay Area News Group file)
Our condolences to the Van Wormer Family & Friends, the Cal Fire Santa Clare Unit, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Rob Van Wormer's passing.
To date, 63 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
