NJ Assistant Fire Chief Dies of COVID-19

June 17, 2020
Little Falls Assistant Fire Chief Ronnie Cordero, a 40-year veteran firefighter, contracted the deadly virus after coming into close contact with an infected homeowner during a call.

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A New Jersey assistant fire chief who came into contact with a person with COVID-19 during a call has died of the deadly virus, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Little Falls Assistant Fire Chief Ronnie Cordero, a 40-year veteran firefighter, was hospitalized with the disease April 14. He died April 22, the USFA stated in an alert.

Cordero, 61, contracted the deadly virus when he came in close contact with an infected homeowner during an April 1 call. The homeowner told the responding crew that his son had tested positive for COVID-19. The man also said that he had just returned from the hospital with virus-related symptoms.

On April 2, the homeowner was taken to the hospital and tested positive for COVID-19. Some of the firefighters and EMS workers who Cordero was in contact with during the April 1 and other calls also tested positive for the virus.

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