ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Lucie County Fire District is mourning the loss of firefighter/paramedic Jarius Hodge, who died after becoming ill while on duty.
The fire district confirmed Hodge’s passing in a Facebook post, stating that he became ill while at work and had to leave due to his condition, WPBF reported.
“Because of the close proximity to his active duty, we are treating his death with the honors appropriate to a line-of-duty,” the department stated. “This includes an Honor Guard presence and ceremonial escort of his body from the hospital to the Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Further details about Hodge’s illness and death have not been released.
Trending
The state’s new fire code requires annual inspections for recalled sprinkler heads and property owner notification to local fire departments, addressing a gap exposed by the 2025 Fall River fire that killed 10 residents
Ephrata Chief Jeremy Burns told the city council that EMS needs a sustainable funding source beyond the general fund, floating a voter-approved EMS levy or utility model used in nearby cities
About 180 of 250 Orange County Animal Rescue Team volunteers were on standby with fueled trailers as the Norte fire threatened San Juan Capistrano’s equestrian community, with roughly 300 shelter stalls prepared across the county
All four rural emergency service districts showcased apparatus and fielded questions from residents at “Inside the Firehouse” to explain how tax dollars fund volunteer fire departments outside city limits
