NC Firefighter Dies After Becoming Ill Following Call

Members of the Whispering Pines Fire Rescue Department are mourning the loss of a lieutenant who died after he became ill when he returned home from the fire station. 

Donald “Reid” Key II, 31, drover a water tanker to a fire alarm activation on Dec. 25, but the unit was returned to service before it arrived.

After returning to the station, Key helped crews clean up equipment from another apparatus that responded to a structure fire earlier in the day.

Later that evening, after returning home, Key began experiencing a headache, according to a release from the U.S. Fire Administration.

Key’s wife drove him to Moore Regional Hospital on Dec. 26 when the headache worsened. After hospital staff evaluated Key, he was airlifted to UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital.

Key passed away around 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 27. 

The cause of death has not been determined.

Key joined the Whispering Pines Fire Rescue Department four years ago and was employed as a head technician at Leith Auto Group in Aberdeen, according to his obituary. 

He was a deacon and worship director at New Home Baptist Church and he served as a youth baseball and basketball coach. 

He is survived by his wife Carrie Christopher Key, son Jackson and a daughter Kinsington.

Memorial donations can be made to Whispering Pines Fire Rescue Association, 16 Hardee Ln., Whispering Pines, NC 28327.