Veteran FL Firefighter Dies of COVID-19

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

COVID-19 has claimed the life of a veteran Florida firefighter who battled the virus for roughly a month.

Melbourne firefighter Scott Allender died Tuesday evening after he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in early July, the department announced on social media. He had been a firefighter with the department for 22 years—including 19 as a paramedic—and was instrumental in training newer medics.

“Scott Allender was an important and vibrant member of the Melbourne Fire Department and will be dearly missed by all who knew him,” Chief Chuck Bogle said in a statement.

Before joining the department in October 1989, Allender was a City of Melbourne maintenance worker for a little more than a year. He also served as a Marine for four years and was a Malabar volunteer firefighter from 1994 until 1999.

"(Allender's) personnel file is full of letters and recognition for his services to the community," the department stated.

Allender was married with four children and four grandchildren.