By Laura French
TULLYTOWN, Pa. — The assistant fire chief of a Pennsylvania fire company, who had previously served as fire chief, has died from COVID-19, the company announced early Saturday morning.
Tullytown Assistant Fire Chief Rick Johnson, 50, had been a volunteer firefighter in the borough for more than 30 years, and came from four generations of Tullytown firefighters, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. His grandfather was a firefighter, his father had also served as fire chief, and his son, Cody, is currently a firefighter at the department.
On Friday night, Tullytown firefighters and first responders stood outside the hospital where Johnson was being treated and turned on the lights on their emergency vehicles to show support. They said it was the only way they could visit Johnson due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
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Tullytown Mayor David Cutchineal and Bucks County officials have both ordered flags to be flown at half mast in honor of Johnson.
Cutchineal said Johnson was a lifelong resident of the borough and that he had known the Johnson family his whole life.
“When you grow up in a small town, we’re like family. We have our fights and tussles, but when you lose someone like Rick, it’s like losing a member of the family,” the mayor told the Bucks County Courier Times. “He was an entertaining guy, he liked the Eagles, he liked music. He liked to dance and was a good dancer.”
Tullytown Police Chief Dan Doyle told the Courier Times that Johnson’s passing is “a huge loss for public safety in Tullytown.”
Johnson is survived by his wife Maryann, his son Cody and his daughter Amanda.