San Francisco Firefighter Dies in Training Accident

A San Francisco firefighter died in a training accident at the Fire Department’s Mission District training facility, a department official confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighter-paramedic Jason Cortez was killed after an accident that occurred at around 10 a.m. at the facility at 19th and Folsom streets, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the department. Baxter would not discuss details about the accident or take questions from reporters during a news conference Wednesday at San Francisco General Hospital.

Shon Buford, the firefighters’ union president, confirmed the death from General Hospital, where scores of firefighters and law enforcement officers gathered in tribute to Cortez.

“We lost one of our brothers today in a training incident,” he said, declining further comment.

Baxter said that Cortez was injured in a training exercise and was immediately given medical treatment on the scene. He was taken to General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at about 11 am., Baxter said during a brief address to reporters outside the hospital.

“We are thankful to all for the showing of support we have already received,” he said. “This is a very trying time as Jason was well-liked in our department.”

Cortez, the son of a former San Francisco firefighter, joined the department as a paramedic in 2007 working at Station 49. He had recently graduated from the department’s academy and worked as a firefighter-paramedic at Station 3 in the Tenderloin.

Baxter said that when family and friends were done paying their respects at the hospital, a procession of firefighters and police would escort his body to the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office.

The accident is under investigation, Baxter said.

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