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LODD: St. Louis firefighter suffers medical emergency while on duty

Firefighter Lee Kraus, a 27-year department veteran and second-generation firefighter, died after a medical emergency on June 29

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Fire Department announced the line-of-duty death of Firefighter Lee Kraus, a 27-year veteran who died on July 1 following a medical emergency he experienced while on duty on June 29.

KSDK reported that no additional details about the cause of death were released.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our department and our city,” Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said in a statement. “Firefighter Kraus was a committed public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with his family, his brothers and sisters in the department and all who knew him.”

The department said Kraus was a second-generation firefighter assigned to Truck Company 35C in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. He is survived by his daughter.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.