An Illinois department is spending this holiday weekend dealing with the loss of a brother, after Kankakee Fire Dept. Lt. Frank Fouts, 37, died Thursday afternoon at his home.
Chief Ron Young said Friday afternoon that Fouts had responded to four calls - two fire and two EMS - on his last shift.
"He was relieved at 7 a.m.," the chief said. "Everything appeared normal..."
Fouts was outside, working on a project at his home, when he collapsed at about 1 p.m.
Young said an autopsy showed Fouts, the father of two children, died of a cardiac arrhythmia.
"He was an integral part of our department. He compiled a training manual for our new medics. He was very instrumental in EMS in the last few years," the chief said.
Fouts spent his last shift assigned to an ALS engine company.
Neighboring departments have called to lend a hand, and will be standing by while firefighters attend the wake and funeral service.
Young said the last line-of-duty death in the Kankakee Fire Department was in 1921. "Neighboring departments have experienced a loss over the years, but not us," he said.
The chief added: "We lost a brother."
Visitation will be held from 2-9 p.m. Monday, July 5 at Schreffler Funeral Home in Kankakee. Firefighters will have a special service at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, firefighters will gather at the funeral home at 8 a.m. to escort Fouts to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bradley, where services will begin at 11 a.m.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
