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An Ohio fire department is mourning the death of a firefighter due to COVID-19 for the second time in a month.
The Columbus Division of Fire's Station 21 announced on its Facebook page that veteran firefighter Greg Bauer had succumbed to the deadly virus in the early morning hours Monday.
According to the post, Bauer was assigned to Engine 21 for a majority of his career since first joining the department in 1996.
"Greg was the senior man at our fire house and sometimes respectfully referred to as 'the mayor' for his keeping the troops in line," the post says. "Greg had an infectious smile and laugh, (and) it was there most mornings even when the crew had taken a beating being up all night."
Bauer's death marks the department's second fatality related to COVID-19 in a month after firefighter Frank Duff passed away from complications on Sept 19 following a month-long battle against the virus.
