Duty Death: Alec Tannenbaum - [Vails Gate]
End of Service: 04/08/2020
By Laura French
WEST POINT, N.Y. — A New York firefighter and decorated Marine veteran died Tuesday night after responding to calls in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias.
Firefighter Alec Tannenbaum, 29, who worked full-time at the West Point Fire Department and as a volunteer with the Vails Gate Fire Department, finished his shift with West Point Tuesday morning and then completed a volunteer shift, which included clearing trees downed by the storm, according to a statement from the Vails Gate department.
Tannenbaum was later found unresponsive at home Tuesday evening and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death is being investigated as a possible line-of-duty death, the department said in the statement.
Tannenbaum served two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a Marine and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in combat. He joined the Vails Gate Fire Department in 2016 and was hired as a federal firefighter at West Point in 2018. His ultimate goal was to join the FDNY, and he was due to be appointed to an upcoming FDNY class, the Vails Gate department wrote.
“He enthusiastically applied himself to everything he did, whether it was being a firefighter, physical fitness, helping his community, or just enjoying life,” the statement read. “Alec proudly served his country and his community with everything he had. Most importantly, he was a friend and brother to us all, and will be sorely missed.”