Ala. Firefighter Becomes Ill, Dies Searching For Explosives

May 1, 2013
A 37-year-old member of the Oak Ridge (Ala.) Volunteer Fire Department became ill while searching for explosives in the woods on Monday, was hospitalized and died a few hours later.

A 37-year-old member of the Oak Ridge (Ala.) Volunteer Fire Department became ill while searching for explosives in the woods on Monday, was hospitalized and died a few hours later.

According to a report published by the Alabama Media Group, Dale Scott Queen of Hartselle was on a call, assisting the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office assisting with an explosion. Queen was taking to Decatur Morgan Hospital after he began feeling ill during a search for possible explosives in the woods.

The cause of his death is unknown, but it wasn’t related to any explosives as none were found Oak Ridge Fire Chief Stephen Maples told the media group. The results of an autopsy on Queen were not made public as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to the news report, Queen, who made his living as a truck driver, was also a member of the Morgan County Rescue Squad and was a husband and a father of three sons.

According to his obituary, published by the Peck Funeral Home, Hartselle, Ala., Queen’s funeral will be held with firefighter honors on at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at the funeral home followed by burial in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 3, from 6 to 9 p.m.

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