Six Wisconsin firefighters and EMS personnel have died in the line of duty due to COVID-19 complications in 2021.
Just one month into 2022, two more firefighter line-of-duty deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.
According to public data from the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial, three additional firefighters and EMS personnel died from COVID-19 complications in 2020, bringing the total to 11 deaths since the pandemic started. Their departments count them as deaths in the line of duty, according to a report by CHANNEL 3000.
COVID-19 has soared to the leading cause of police and firefighter deaths over the last two years. In Wisconsin, firefighter deaths outnumber police who have lost four officers since the beginning of the pandemic.
It’s disheartening. As much as we’ve tried to protect ourselves and continue to try to protect ourselves, there is exposure and breakthrough infections causing difficulties, Chris Klahn said, who works for the Montello Fire Department and sits on the board of directors for the Wisconsin State Firefighter Association. It’s not only just the firefighters, it’s their families also.
