A veteran Nebraska volunteer firefighter and paramedic has died after suffering a medical emergency while assisting at a brush fire.
The U.S. Fire Administration on Thursday announced the line-of-duty death of Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department (Omaha) member Dennis M. Bender, who was 78 and had dedicated 50 years to the fire and emergency services.
According to the USFA, Bender was responding to his third wildfire call of the day east of Fort Calhoun in Washington County on Wednesday when he suffered the medical emergency and was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The Star Herald newspaper is reporting that Bender was the longest serving paramedic in Nebraska.
"It is with deep sadness that we report the line-of-duty death of Ponca Hills firefighter paramedic Dennis M. Bender," Ponca Hills Fire Chief Joe Sack told the Star Herald. "We ask for your prayers for his family, firefighter family and friends."
