WA Fire Captain Dies after Medical Emergency

A longtime volunteer firefighter in western Washington state died last weekend after suffering a medical emergency during a fire.

The U.S. Fire Administration on Friday announced the line-of-duty death of Capt. John Ostergard, who volunteered with East Olympia Fire District 6 and was a 27-year veteran of the fire service.

The 63-year-old Ostergard collapsed at the scene of a working structure fire in Yelm last Friday and was immediately transported to Providence Saint Peters Hospital in Olympia, where he died on Sunday.

“It was an honor to have him as a member of our district,” East Olympia Fire District 6 Chief Warren Peterson told The Olympian newspaper. “His love for the fire service and for helping the community was enormous.”