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The deaths of two Chicago firefighters from complications connected to COVID-19 have been determined to be in the line of duty, the department said Monday.
Mario Araujo, 49, was assigned to Truck 25 on the North Side when he died. Edward Singleton, 55, was assigned to Midway Airport. Singleton died on April 14 and Araujo died on April 7.
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The designation provides surviving relatives with a year of salary, memorial services and department help getting access to local, state and federal benefits for firefighters who die in the line of duty.
“Our current situation is unprecedented in the history of our department and will be addressed accordingly," Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard Ford said in a statement. "These two members made the ultimate sacrifice to protect those whom they swore an oath to serve. We will not forget our obligation to their families in this time of crisis.”
Each firefighter death will be reviewed “on a case-by-case basis for determination of (line of duty death) status,” according to the statement.
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