Family, friends and fellow firefighters paused Sunday to honor a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter for making a difference in the community and in the department.
He made the whole crew better,. He wasn’t just a good firefighter — he was a good man,” a firefighter told the congregation at the funeral service for Firefighter Andrew Brandon.
Brandon was the third Miami-Dade firefighter to die by suicide in the past two years, following Capt. Bill Gustin in March 2024 and Lt. Alexander Acosta the summer before, Local 10 reported.
More firefighters are reaching out for help, IAFF Local President Bill McAllister said.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.