Ohio Firefighter's Death Deemed an LODD

June 16, 2014
Dayton Firefighter/Paramedic Rickie Halcomb died in March from Hepatitis-C to which he was exposed at a crash scene 14 years ago.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the passing of Dayton (Ohio) Firefighter Paramedic Rickie K. Halcomb is a line of duty death.

Halcomb, who was 56 at the time of his death on March 21, was exposed to the Hepatitis-C virus at the scene of a wreck on Interstate 75 on June 6, 2000.

While assisting with the extrication, Halcomb nasally intubated the victim and was exposed to the virus at the scene. Halcomb, who was a career firefighter/paramedic assigned to Dayton Medic 11, suffered the adverse effect of the disease process until he passed way in March.

Halcomb, who joined the Dayton Fire Department in 1993, made sure his experience was a learning opportunity, paving the way for baseline testing to be required of all Dayton firefighters and helping to introduce legislation for needleless IVs and advocating for better pathogen training for all firefighters.

He was survived by his wife, mother and siblings.

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