Dec. 21--A 40-year-old firefighter from the west metro died overnight Tuesday following a physical training session.
Capt. Jeff Vollmer, a 12-year veteran of the Mayer Fire Department, died early Tuesday at his home, the department announced Wednesday.
Vollmer's death came in the line of duty, the department said, having participated in training the previous night.
Eden Prairie Chief George Esbensen, a board member with a statewide foundation that is responsible for the Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the State Capitol, said Vollmer's training Monday was "physically challenging" and was followed by "an apparent heart attack" suffered about 4 a.m.
The Mayer Fire Department and others across Carver County scheduled training that night to refresh their personnel's emergency medical service skills, "getting people out of tight spaces, moving people up and down stairs," said Esbensen, speaking on behalf of the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation.
Mayer Fire Chief Rod Maetzold attended his department's nearly 1 hour and 45 minutes of training, which included carrying people and sitting them on stretchers. Maetzold said Vollmer "went through it just fine."
It is because Vollmer's training was hands-on, and more than sitting in a class-like environment, that his death is being considered as coming in the line of duty, Esbensen said.
A final confirmation of that classification by state and federal agencies would free up survivor benefits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for Vollmer's heirs.
The Mayer Fire Department is a volunteer agency and compensates its firefighters for training, duties, standing watch and special events.
A memorial service for Vollmer is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fine Arts Auditorium of Mayer Lutheran High School. Visitation will be at Freshwater Community Church in Waconia on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at the high school.
Vollmer is survived by his wife of 11 years, Emily; daughters Anika and Kennedi; parents Art and Arlene Vollmer, of Ortonville; and sister Jaclyn Ekern, of Sartell, MN.
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