By Anthony Galaviz
Merced Sun-Star
KINGS COUNTY, Calif. — A Kings County Fire captain died Saturday night while at a house fire in Avenal, California.
Mark Eads was 62. He had been with the department for over 20 years.
Eads and an engineer responded to a smoke in a structure call on the 800 block of Skyline in the Kings County city of 14,000 that’s about an hour southwest of Fresno.
While at the scene, Eads suffered a medical emergency and was taken to a Coalinga hospital where he died.
Eads started with Kings County in 2003 as a fire apparatus engineer before briefly leaving in 2004. He was rehired in 2005 and was promoted as captain in 2021.
“Captain Eads was a dedicated firefighter who served the community with passion and commitment,” Kings County Fire said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Kings County is grateful for the years of service and dedication that Captain Eads provided to the department and the community.”
Kings County Fire spokesperson Blake Adney said Eads had a “great sense of humor.”
“(He) loved working alongside his brothers and sisters,” he said.
Funeral services are pending.
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