A 50-year-old lieutenant with the Myrtle Beach, S.C., Fire Department was found unresponsive in his bed at the station on Wednesday morning and was later pronounced dead from apparent natural causes.
According to the United States Fire Administration, Lt. John Burns had responded to calls earlier in his shift in addition to performing other duties, thus making his passing a line of duty death.
The exact cause of his death has not been determined but it appears to be of natural causes.
According to the Myrtle Beach Fire Department Facebook page, Burns began his 26-year career with the department in July 1988 and had received many accolades throughout service as a firefighter.
He was an active member of the Pee Dee Regional Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), was a South Carolina State Certified Fire Instructor and a former United States Army Ranger.
The department called him a devoted friend and co-worker.
Firehouse News will post more information as it becomes available.
