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

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.

Trending

Labor and Union Issues

Union: 93% of firefighters vote ‘no confidence’ in chief over Texas flood response

Union leaders claim that department directives limited the deployment of Austin firefighters during the deadly Kerr County flooding

July 14, 2025 01:12 PM

 · 

Sarah Roebuck

Fire Service Staffing

Union: ‘Lives would’ve been saved’ at fatal Mass. assisted living fire with more staffing

Out of the 10 companies with the Fall River Fire Department, only two are staffed at the national standard of four firefighters, IAFF President Edward Kelly said

July 15, 2025 11:07 AM

Wildfire and Wildland-Urban Interface

Fires across western Colo. force evacuations, challenge crews with steep terrain

The South Rim fire, the largest of four Colorado blazes ignited by a lightning storm, has caused over $3 million in damages, while other fires threaten structures and power lines

July 15, 2025 09:48 AM

Search and Rescue

N.J. house explodes, dozens rescued from rising water in chaotic night of flooding

A gas leak triggered the explosion, while torrential rain forced evacuations and water rescues across the North Plainfield borough

July 15, 2025 11:03 AM