Orange County, CA, Firefighter Stricken During House Fire Search, Dies
A veteran firefighter with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) lost his life at a house fire in Laguna Niguel Sunday morning.
Fire Apparatus Engineer Kevin Skinner responded to a house fire in the 29400 block of Pointe Royale just before 5 a.m.
Skinner was searching the home for possible victims when he told colleagues he was not feeling well, the OCFA said in statement. Fellow firefighters helped him from the home and got him into an ambulance for an evaluation where he collapsed.
"Despite the heroic efforts of our crews and medical personnel, Kevin did not survive," the department shared.
Skinner leaves behind a wife and four children.
He joined the fire department in 1999, after serving with the U.S. Navy.
"He was known for his warm personality and his ability to make everyone feel welcome," the department shared.
Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.
