LAFD Firefighter Dies of COVID on New Year's Day

Jan. 4, 2021
Los Angeles City Fire Capt. George Roque, 57, was a 22-year veteran firefighter, and he is the second member of the department to die from the virus.

Editor's note: Find Firehouse.com's complete coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

A Los Angeles City Fire Department died from complications of COVID-19 on New Year's Day, according to the department.

Capt. George Roque, 57, was a 22-year veteran with the fire department and had been assigned to Station 97 in the Laurel Canyon/Mulholland area. He is the second LAFD member to die from the virus since the pandemic began; firefighter-paramedic Jose Perez died in July.

"On behalf of the men and women of the LAFD, I send my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Roque family and his friends and colleagues throughout the Department," Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said in a statement.

In a line-of-duty death announcement on Tuesday, the U.S. Fire Administration said Roque contracted COVD-19 while on duty from a patient with a known case of the virus.

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