COVID-19 Claims NM Firefighter

Feb. 2, 2021
Lt. Edward Vasquez, who worked for the fire department at the NASA White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, died Saturday from complications of the virus.

Editor's note: Find Firehouse.com's complete coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

A New Mexico firefighter died of COVID-19 complications Saturday.

Lt. Edward Vasquez, who worked for the fire department at the NASA White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, had contracted the virus in the line of duty, an alert by the U.S. Fire Administration stated. As his COVID symptoms worsened, Vasquez, 35, was placed in intensive care, and he eventually was taken to a facility in Albuquerque "for more definitive, life saving treatments," according to a GoFundMe page for the firefighter's family.

"His symptoms quickly escalated, and the illness ended up taking over his body," the GoFundMe page stated. 

It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty death of Lieutenant Edward Vasquez, NASA White Sands...

Posted by White Sands Professional Firefighters Association on Sunday, January 31, 2021

On Saturday, Vasquez died from complications of the virus.

"Our thoughts and prayers go to the Vasquez family and our sisters and brothers of the NASA White Sands Test Facility Fire Department," the White Sands Professional Firefighters Associations stated in an online post.

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