COVID Complications Claims Wichita KS Firefighter

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Dec. 31—The city of Wichita said Thursday that one of its longtime firefighters has died from what's thought to be complications associated with COVID-19.

Joshua D. Bruggeman, a 17-year veteran of the Wichita Fire Department, died at 10:14 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley Medical Center, the city said. He was 46.

Bruggeman was hired by the department on April 10, 2004, and was last assigned to the A shift at Station 8, 661 N. Elder, near Central. His death, which is considered to have occurred in the line of duty, is the first from COVID-19 within the Wichita Fire Department, the city said.

Fire Chief Tammy Snow on Thursday expressed condolences to Bruggeman's family on behalf of the city and the entire fire department. She announced his death "with a very heavy heart and extreme sadness" in a brief news conference Thursday afternoon, calling him "one of Wichita's bravest."

"Firefighter Bruggeman dedicated his life to serving the community and his loss will be felt deeply by all who knew him," she said, adding that he had a "tremendous amount of institutional knowledge" and had held several roles, including engine driver and pump operator, during his time with the department.

"Since we have the opportunity to spend one-third of our lives together at the fire stations, we become very close, very family oriented. And so this is ... a deep loss," she said.

As news of Bruggeman's death spread on social media Thursday afternoon, gratitude for his service to the city flowed in.

"Josh was a great man!!! He will be missed," one man wrote on Facebook.

Another who said he'd known Bruggeman since middle school called his passing "sad and tragic news."

"I have known Josh since we were 12. My heart is broken. RIP brother," another person wrote.

Snow said Thursday that the last time Bruggeman was at his fire station was on Dec. 14. But she was unsure exactly how long he'd been ill.

"He had called in a couple of times as being sick and then he utilized some vacation accruals in between times," she said.

Bruggeman's health took a turn for the worse on Sunday evening when he got "very sick," Snow said. He was taken to a Wichita hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19. His condition declined from there.

Bruggeman is survived by his wife, Kerri, and their four daughters. His funeral arrangements are pending.

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Visit The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.) at www.kansas.com

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