An Orange County Fire Authority firefighter died Thursday during a training operation.
James M. Owen, 56, was on a break from rescue drills at the OCFA Headquarters in Irvine when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, which reports on firefighter deaths.
“Firefighter/Paramedic Owen was participating in multi-company training at the Orange County Fire Authority Regional Fire Operations Training Center when he fell ill,” the USFA said in a statement. “Crews on scene immediately rendered care and while being assessed Owen went into a full cardiac arrest.”
Owen was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana where he died.
He was a 30-year department veteran.
“He was a top-notch firefighter,” OCFA Captain Greg McKeown told the Orange County Register. “To lose him like this is a tragedy.”
Owen was the 56th firefighter to die in the line of duty this year, according to the Fire Administration.
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