IN Fire Chief Dies After Collapsing at Truck Fire Scene

Brookston Prairie Township, IN, Fire Department Chief Michael Payne, 58, died after collapsing at the scene of a truck fire Monday night.

The United States Fire Administration has posted notice of Payne’s death on its website. According to the USFA posting, Payne and members of his department responded to a truck fire on Interstate 65, north of Lafayette, IN, just before midnight.

After the fire was extinguished, Payne fell ill and collapsed.

Lifesaving efforts were initiated and the chief was transported to Indiana University Hospital in Lafayette where the efforts continued until he died at about 1:45 a.m. Tuesday morning.