EMMITSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Fire Administration has recently issued several on-duty fatality notices recognizing firefighters who died in separate incidents in Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey and Texas.
Senior Firefighter Patrick Trout, Michigan
Detroit Senior Firefighter Patrick Trout responded with Squad 4 to several emergency calls during his Jan. 4-5, 2026, shift, including a working structure fire. While operating inside the building in heavy smoke and limited visibility, Trout was struck in the head by debris. He continued working and completed the response with his crew.
After his shift, Trout returned home and developed severe headaches and head pain. His condition worsened later that evening, and emergency crews were called after he became unresponsive. Police officers and firefighters attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His cause of death was determined to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Chief Engineer Eugene Cervi, Maryland
On July 5, 2026, at approximately 6 p.m., Chief Engineer Eugene Cervi drove a Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company apparatus to a reported water rescue. At the scene, he helped deploy the department’s boat. The response ended at approximately 8 p.m. At about 3 a.m. on July 6, Cervi suffered a cardiovascular event. He was transported to a hospital, where he died later that day.
Probationary Firefighter Robert “Bobby” Reider III, New Jersey
Probationary Firefighter Robert “Bobby” Reider III was responding from his home to the Malaga Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 station on June 27, 2026, after the department was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash. Reider was traveling in his personal vehicle to help staff the apparatus when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a fire hydrant and a utility pole.
Malaga fire crews were diverted to the crash, extricated Reider and began lifesaving measures. He was airlifted to a trauma center, where he remained in critical condition until his death on July 10.
Fire Safety Chief Dan Hernandez Jr., Texas
Fire Safety Chief Dan Hernandez Jr. responded to a brush fire on July 7, 2026. While at the scene, he suffered a cardiovascular event and was transported to a regional medical center, where he was stabilized.
Hernandez was later transferred to another hospital. He died there on July 11 despite continued medical treatment.
The U.S. Fire Administration investigates and tracks all on-duty firefighter fatalities to identify contributing factors and improve firefighter safety nationwide. Fatality notices are initially published as provisional and may be updated as additional information becomes available through the agency’s review process
