OH Assistant Chief Dies after Training, Grass Fire

The assistant chief of the Madison Township-Kunkle, OH, Fire Department died after attending a training meeting and a grass fire where he was the first on the scene and commanding officer.

The line-of-duty death of Assistant Chief Rodney D. “R.D.” Baker Jr., 47, was announced Friday by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

According to the USFA, Baker attended a fire department training meeting on March 15 and later that same day, about 10:30 pm, he responded to a grass fire. Units were back in service about an hour later.

While attending a family event March 16, Baker became ill and collapsed at about 4:30, according to the USFA. Family members trained in CPR immediately assisted Baker while the Pioneer Fire Department and Williams County EMS were called to the scene. He was transported to Bryan Hospital where he was pronounced dead from a cardiac event.

According to his obituary published by The Village Reporter, Baker was a member of the fire department for 29 years, eight of those as assistant chief.

Survivors include his parents, three children, five grandchildren and a life companion.

Services were held earlier this week.