Firefighter Died in Line of Duty, Day After Two-Alarm House Fire

An FDNY firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while on duty, one day after operating at a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, the FDNY and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Jesse Gerhard, 33, was a seven-year veteran of the FDNY. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, he suffered a medical episode while on duty in his firehouse — Ladder Company 134 in Far Rockaway, Queens — and was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital where he later died.

Gerhard had operated extensively at a 2-alarm house fire the previous day, the department said.

The FDNY did not say if Gerhard’s medical incident was related to the fire operation.

“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard dreamed of being a Firefighter his entire life; and he lived that dream, bravely serving the residents of Queens by battling fires and rescuing New Yorkers from harm,” Mayor Adams said. “The heartbreaking loss of this brave young man who was so committed to saving others is a painful reminder of the dangerous and difficult work New York City Firefighters do every single day.”

“As a Firefighter and an EMT, Jesse Gerhard served our city with incredible courage and valor, always rushing into danger and risking his life to save others,”  Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. said. “Our entire Department is in mourning over the tragic death of this extraordinary young man who always answered the call and never wavered in his sworn duty to save others.”

Gerhard joined the FDNY as an EMT in July 2014. He first served at Station 10 in Manhattan and later Station 47 in Far Rockaway. He entered the Fire Academy in December 2017 and, after graduating in April 2018, was first assigned as a Firefighter to Engine Company 264 in Far Rockaway.

In March 2020, he transferred to Ladder 34 in the same firehouse. He was honored for bravery once in his career.

Gerhard is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. The last line-of-duty service member was Joseph Maiello on Dec. 26, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, and sister-in-law. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The mayor ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff until Gerhard's interment.

An FDNY firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while on duty, one day after operating at a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, the FDNY and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Jesse Gerhard, 33, was a seven-year veteran of the FDNY. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, he suffered a medical episode while on duty in his firehouse — Ladder Company 134 in Far Rockaway, Queens — and was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital where he later died.

Gerhard had operated extensively at a 2-alarm house fire the previous day, the department said.

The FDNY did not say if Gerhard’s medical incident was related to the fire operation.

“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard dreamed of being a Firefighter his entire life; and he lived that dream, bravely serving the residents of Queens by battling fires and rescuing New Yorkers from harm,” Mayor Adams said. “The heartbreaking loss of this brave young man who was so committed to saving others is a painful reminder of the dangerous and difficult work New York City Firefighters do every single day.”

“As a Firefighter and an EMT, Jesse Gerhard served our city with incredible courage and valor, always rushing into danger and risking his life to save others,”  Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. said. “Our entire Department is in mourning over the tragic death of this extraordinary young man who always answered the call and never wavered in his sworn duty to save others.”

Gerhard joined the FDNY as an EMT in July 2014. He first served at Station 10 in Manhattan and later Station 47 in Far Rockaway. He entered the Fire Academy in December 2017 and, after graduating in April 2018, was first assigned as a Firefighter to Engine Company 264 in Far Rockaway.

In March 2020, he transferred to Ladder 34 in the same firehouse. He was honored for bravery once in his career.

Gerhard is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. The last line-of-duty service member was Joseph Maiello on Dec. 26, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, and sister-in-law. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The mayor ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff until Gerhard's interment.

An FDNY firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while on duty, one day after operating at a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, the FDNY and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Jesse Gerhard, 33, was a seven-year veteran of the FDNY. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, he suffered a medical episode while on duty in his firehouse — Ladder Company 134 in Far Rockaway, Queens — and was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital where he later died.

Gerhard had operated extensively at a 2-alarm house fire the previous day, the department said.

The FDNY did not say if Gerhard’s medical incident was related to the fire operation.

“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard dreamed of being a Firefighter his entire life; and he lived that dream, bravely serving the residents of Queens by battling fires and rescuing New Yorkers from harm,” Mayor Adams said. “The heartbreaking loss of this brave young man who was so committed to saving others is a painful reminder of the dangerous and difficult work New York City Firefighters do every single day.”

“As a Firefighter and an EMT, Jesse Gerhard served our city with incredible courage and valor, always rushing into danger and risking his life to save others,”  Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. said. “Our entire Department is in mourning over the tragic death of this extraordinary young man who always answered the call and never wavered in his sworn duty to save others.”

Gerhard joined the FDNY as an EMT in July 2014. He first served at Station 10 in Manhattan and later Station 47 in Far Rockaway. He entered the Fire Academy in December 2017 and, after graduating in April 2018, was first assigned as a Firefighter to Engine Company 264 in Far Rockaway.

In March 2020, he transferred to Ladder 34 in the same firehouse. He was honored for bravery once in his career.

Gerhard is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. The last line-of-duty service member was Joseph Maiello on Dec. 26, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, and sister-in-law. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The mayor ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff until Gerhard's interment.

An FDNY firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while on duty, one day after operating at a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, the FDNY and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Jesse Gerhard, 33, was a seven-year veteran of the FDNY. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, he suffered a medical episode while on duty in his firehouse — Ladder Company 134 in Far Rockaway, Queens — and was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital where he later died.

Gerhard had operated extensively at a 2-alarm house fire the previous day, the department said.

The FDNY did not say if Gerhard’s medical incident was related to the fire operation.

“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard dreamed of being a Firefighter his entire life; and he lived that dream, bravely serving the residents of Queens by battling fires and rescuing New Yorkers from harm,” Mayor Adams said. “The heartbreaking loss of this brave young man who was so committed to saving others is a painful reminder of the dangerous and difficult work New York City Firefighters do every single day.”

“As a Firefighter and an EMT, Jesse Gerhard served our city with incredible courage and valor, always rushing into danger and risking his life to save others,”  Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. said. “Our entire Department is in mourning over the tragic death of this extraordinary young man who always answered the call and never wavered in his sworn duty to save others.”

Gerhard joined the FDNY as an EMT in July 2014. He first served at Station 10 in Manhattan and later Station 47 in Far Rockaway. He entered the Fire Academy in December 2017 and, after graduating in April 2018, was first assigned as a Firefighter to Engine Company 264 in Far Rockaway.

In March 2020, he transferred to Ladder 34 in the same firehouse. He was honored for bravery once in his career.

Gerhard is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. The last line-of-duty service member was Joseph Maiello on Dec. 26, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, and sister-in-law. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The mayor ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff until Gerhard's interment.

An FDNY firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while on duty, one day after operating at a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, the FDNY and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Jesse Gerhard, 33, was a seven-year veteran of the FDNY. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, he suffered a medical episode while on duty in his firehouse — Ladder Company 134 in Far Rockaway, Queens — and was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital where he later died.

Gerhard had operated extensively at a 2-alarm house fire the previous day, the department said.

The FDNY did not say if Gerhard’s medical incident was related to the fire operation.

“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard dreamed of being a Firefighter his entire life; and he lived that dream, bravely serving the residents of Queens by battling fires and rescuing New Yorkers from harm,” Mayor Adams said. “The heartbreaking loss of this brave young man who was so committed to saving others is a painful reminder of the dangerous and difficult work New York City Firefighters do every single day.”

“As a Firefighter and an EMT, Jesse Gerhard served our city with incredible courage and valor, always rushing into danger and risking his life to save others,”  Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. said. “Our entire Department is in mourning over the tragic death of this extraordinary young man who always answered the call and never wavered in his sworn duty to save others.”

Gerhard joined the FDNY as an EMT in July 2014. He first served at Station 10 in Manhattan and later Station 47 in Far Rockaway. He entered the Fire Academy in December 2017 and, after graduating in April 2018, was first assigned as a Firefighter to Engine Company 264 in Far Rockaway.

In March 2020, he transferred to Ladder 34 in the same firehouse. He was honored for bravery once in his career.

Gerhard is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty. The last line-of-duty service member was Joseph Maiello on Dec. 26, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, and sister-in-law. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The mayor ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff until Gerhard's interment.