A veteran Tallahassee firefighter has died while on duty at his fire station in a sad turn that came just one day after his 43rd birthday.
Engineer Jeffery Atkinson, who was a 17-year veteran of the department, died overnight Thursday of a nature and cause that is yet to be determined, according to a line-of-duty death notification by the U.S. Fire Administration.
"Engineer Atkinson has served the citizens of Tallahassee and Leon County for over 17 years and he will be greatly missed," reads a statement released Friday morning by the TFD. "Please extend your thoughts and prayers to his wife, daughter and family during this difficult time."
A spokeswoman for the Tallahassee Fire Department said Atkinson's death was not related to the two fires the TFD fought on Thursday, one of them commercial and the other residential.
"My heart goes out to his wife Nina, 4-year-old daughter Austin, and his other family and colleagues during this difficult time," Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said in a statement. "I urge our community to celebrate his life as a brave first responder and public servant of our City."
A viewing will be held Sunday from 5-8 p.m. at Bevis Funeral Home and the funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at The Pavilion at The Centre of Tallahassee.
The Tallahassee Fire Department had not suffered a line-of-duty death since firefighter Lewin Spear was killed battling a warehouse fire in 1930, according to WTXL.
