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LODD: Iowa firefighter dies after performing apparatus, equipment maintenance at station

At a procession in honor of Barnes City Fire Department Captain Gary DeCook, fellow first responders drove a vehicle that was special to him

DecookBarnesCVFDIowa.jpg

Photo/Barnes City Volunteer Fire Department

Duty Death: Gary DeCook - [Barnes City]

End of Service: 27/08/2022

By Leila Merrill

NEW SHARON, Iowa — Barnes City Fire Department Captain Gary DeCook, 66, died on Aug. 27 after he performed maintenance on fire apparatus and equipment at the station and went home, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Less than five minutes after he arrived home, he collapsed on his driveway.

Fellow first responders arrived and performed CPR but could not revive him. He passed away from an apparent heart attack.

https://www.facebook.com/barnescityfire/photos/a.823441087840185/1971287663055516/

Dozens of emergency vehicles rolled through New Sharon in a procession in his honor last week, KCCI reported.

“You’re not just a fireman. You’re a brother,” said Michael Cox, who worked with DeCook at the Barnes City Volunteer Fire Department.

His fellow firefighters drive the fire truck he helped convert from an Army vehicle.

“To get it running today was a real big thing for us because it needed a little bit of work,” Cox said. “But we overnighted some stuff here and got it.”

The Barnes City Fire Department shared this video of DeCook.

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