A 79-year-old firefighter died over the weekend while performing in-house duties at a New Jersey firehouse, according to a report from the U.S Fire Administration.
On November 6, Firefighter Alfred A. Stewart reported to the fire station for a company drill with West Milford Volunteer Fire Company #6. He remained alone at the station to perform maintenance duties while other company members attended the drill.
At some point, Stewart ascended a ladder inside the station for these maintenance duties. When fire department personnel returned from the drill, they found Stewart entangled in the fallen ladder. Despite lifesaving efforts, Stewart was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. It is unknown whether Stewart suffered a medical emergency while atop the ladder and then fell, or if the ladder had fallen while he was on it, causing his trauma. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of Firefighter Stewart’s death.
