Idaho Firefighter Dies During Gas Leak Response

March 27, 2003
An Idaho firefighter died in the line of duty Wednesday night while responding to a call for a natural gas leak.
An Idaho firefighter died in the line of duty Wednesday night while responding to a call for a natural gas leak.

Firefighter Kevin M. Whiteley, 47, served the Emmett City Fire Department for over ten years. He was the department's training officer.

"He was a wonderful individual that gave his heart and soul to the fire department and his family," said Chief Shannon Crays.

Whiteley and two other firefighter/EMTs were dispatched to a call for a natural gas leak at 8:19 p.m. Whiteley did an interior check and returned to the apparatus where he removed his SCBA and began filling out a report. About 30 minutes after completing the interior check, he collapsed, the chief said. Officials suspect a heart attack but the cause of death had not been determined as of Thursday afternoon.

The firefighters on scene provided basic medical attention and called for an ambulance from Gem County Ambulance at 9:21 p.m. Whiteley was taken to Walter Knox Memorial Hospital. Treatment was continued en route to the hospital and at the hospital, but the firefighter was pronounced dead at about 10:30 p.m.

Whiteley is survived by his wife Tammy, daughter Mindy, 23, and son Mark, 16. He was employed by United Oil as a delivery driver, the chief said.

This is the first line-of-duty death in the close-knit Emmett City Fire Department, which has 13 members, all paid-on-call. Crays said members met with a state critical incident stress management team and are holding up as well as can be expected.

"He was a great brother that was a wonderful asset to our department and will be greatly missed," the chief said. "He always had a smile on his face and something funny to say."

A memorial service has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday, said Gem County dispatch supervisor Lisa Resinkin. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available. Emmett is about 30 miles northwest of Boise.

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