On the morning of December 18, 2013, Firefighter Jon F. Schondelmayer, 44, was working with Swift Creek Fire Department as a firefighter when he begin to feel ill. He communicated to his crew at approximately 1130hrs that he was going to go home to get some medicine and return to the station. His crew became concerned when he left and called him on his cell phone to check to see how he was doing. At the same time, a Swift Creek firefighter was sent to his residence. While on the telephone, Jon Schondelmayer communicated that he did not feel well and needed assistance. When the other Swift Creek firefighter arrived at the residence, he found Firefighter Schondelmayer unresponsive. Don Schondelmayer's fellow responder began rendering medical aid and contacted his company at Swift Creek for assistance. Emergency responders worked for 50 minutes to try to revive Firefighter Schondelmayer but he passed away from a nature and cause of injury still to be determined and reported. Firefighter Schondelmayer was also a Fire Captain with the Cary Fire Department, North Carolina, and had just come off of a busy shift with Cary that included several emergency response runs before beginning duty that day with the Swift Creek Rural Fire Department.
Our condolences to the Schondelmayer Family & Friends, the Swift Creek Rural Fire Department and to all affected Firefighter Jon F. Schondelmayer's passing.
To date, 99 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2013. 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.)
