WINCHESTER, Ind. — A firefighter is dead after sustaining a medical emergency while responding to a blaze in Randolph County.
The Winchester Fire Department was called Thursday afternoon to a working structure fire on Watson Street. Fire crews from White River, Lynn and Farmland assisted WFD.
While responding to the fire, WFD said 48-year-old Rick Sanders began feeling "unwell" and proceeded to exit the residence while other responding firefighters checked on him. Firefighters on the scene determined that Sanders was suffering from a cardiac arrest.
WFD confirmed Thursday night that the firefighter was taken to Ascension St. Vicent Hospital in Randolph County for treatment, but was pronounced deceased.
"We ask that you lift up the firefighter's immediate and work family, the on-scene responders, the 911 dispatchers at the mic, and his friends," Randolph County HSEM said on Facebook. "As approved information becomes available, we will assist Winchester in distributing that information."
Randolph County Coroner Darin James confirmed an autopsy is scheduled to take place Friday at IU Ball Memorial Hospital to determine the exact cause of death.
WFD said Sander's sacrifice "would never be forgotten."
"Rick, from your brothers at WFD, we love you, we will miss you, and we thank you for paying the ultimate sacrifice for us and for the community around you," WFD said in a post on Facebook.