By Nathan Isaacs
The Tri-City Herald
Copyright 2007 Tri-City Herald
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
KENNEWICK, Wash. — A 13-year veteran with the Kennewick Fire Department died suddenly early Thursday while on duty. Firefighters from across the state are mourning the loss of Eric Lyons, 38, of Kennewick. This unexpected and tragic loss has stunned local firefighters, said Kennewick Fire Chief Neil Hines. He apparently suffered a seizure while relaxing between fire calls at a downtown fire station, said investigators.
The cause of his death still is being investigated. An autopsy is planned Saturday morning, though a ruling could be delayed several weeks if authorities need toxicology tests, said Benton County Coroner Rick Corson.
Lyons, a member of the department’s 23-member C shift, began work at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the department’s firehouse on Auburn Street.
The July Fourth holiday was steady with medical and small fire calls, but “it wasn’t unusually busy,” Hines said.
Among their calls was a brush fire sparked by fireworks that Lyons and his fellow shift members quickly put out before returning to the station at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Lyons was unwinding at the station, waiting for the next emergency call, when he had some type of seizure, Hines said. According to the shift’s other firefighters, there was no indication Lyons wasn’t feeling well or having any health problems that day.
Co-workers found him in the station’s bunkroom area. Firefighters, who also are certified as emergency medical technicians or paramedics and who are trained in advance life support techniques, immediately began helping him.
Many who tried to save him also were his best friends.
A second ambulance from the department’s station on Morain Street was called in to help. Firefighters also ran to get a cardiac arrest kit from an ambulance.
By the time firefighters got to Lyons with the kit he had stopped breathing. Firefighters began CPR and continued trying to revive him as he was taken to the nearby Kennewick General Hospital.
Hospital medical staff tried to resuscitate Lyons for about 40 minutes before he was pronounced dead at 1:12 a.m., Hines said.
Lyons had been a member of the department’s C shift his entire 13 years with the department. Before coming to Kennewick, he was a volunteer firefighter for Spokane Fire District 8 and Douglas County Fire Protection District 2 in east Wenatchee.
Lyons, who was single and had no children, was originally from the Spokane area. His family, including a brother in California, were expected to arrive today in the Tri-Cities. Hines said two firefighters will serve as liaisons for the family.
Also the department is ready to provide any help to Lyons’ co-workers. “He was one of their brothers,” Hines said.
Members from the Tri-County Crisis Incident Stress Management network also are available to talk with firefighters.
The volunteers are police officers, firefighters and mental health professionals trained to help first-response emergency workers deal with post-traumatic stress. The volunteers talk about anything the firefighters want to talk about individually or as a group, said Richland police Capt. Mike Cobb, a coordinator for the group.
Funeral arrangements still were being worked out Thursday. Hines said a memorial fund would be set up to help offset any expenses. Details will be released later.
Hines said Lyons was an avid golfer who loved life. “He got the most out of every day,” he said.
Lyons also was an organ donor. “As he performed in the line of duty, he is still giving after his death,” Hines said.