A veteran firefighter from a southwestern Pennsylvania community has died after suffering a medical emergency while returning from a response.
According to a Facebook post by the Rostraver Township Volunteer Fire Department, First Capt. Michael Godzak died Sunday night after being stricken as he was returning from a fire call as the engine driver.
Godzak was involved with the township's fire department from a very young age, joining as a junior member in 1970 at age 12 before becoming a regular member after he turned 18 in 1976.
The department post says Godzak held every line officer position during his roughly 42 years with the company and served as fire chief for nine years. He was also the financial and recording secretary for the local firefighter relief association.
“It’s gonna be a great loss around here,” Rostraver VFD President Richard Painter told KDKA. “One of those guys that everybody liked. Nobody had anything bad to say about him.”
Rostraver is a community of roughly 12,000 people in Westmoreland County about 25 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
