Duty Death: Walter Fagen - [Mt. Royal, Gloucester County, East Greenwch Twp, New Jersey]
Firefighter dies out on call Sunday, December 30, 2007 By John Barna jbarna@sjnewsco.com
EAST GREENWICH TWP. A veteran township firefighter died early Saturday after becoming ill while responding to a call.
Walter Fagan, 48, who has been a volunteer for over 10 years, died about 1 a.m. Saturday in Underwood-Memorial Hospital in Woodbury.
Fagan was part of a crew responding to a call about 11:55 p.m. Friday in the Mickleton area, said Nelson Wiest, East Greenwich district fire chief.
"While en route, Mr. Fagan became ill," Wiest said. "He was transported by EMS to Underwood."
A specific cause of death had not been determined as of midday Saturday. Wiest said an autopsy was scheduled.
"He is going to be greatly missed," Wiest said of Fagan, married and the father of two children. "He was an active member. You could pick up the phone at any time (and he would respond) if it was for the fire department."
Fagan served out of the Mount Royal Fire Company.
Wiest said it will "take time" for his volunteer firefighting colleagues to overcome the loss.
"We will need to move forward in his memory."
The fire turned out to be a flame used to dry out drywall taping in new construction.
"Someone saw it and assumed it might be a fire," Wiest said. "It was not the first time."
Crews were responding at reduced speed toward the dispatch location when Fagan became ill.
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