A firefighter/EMT with the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District lost his life Sunday after an accident at the district’s station near Rainsboro.
Early Monday morning, Paint Creek released the name of the victim, firefighter/EMT Joe Patterson.
“It is with deepest sympathies that we have been informed that our brother has been called home and answered his final alarm and did not survive the injuries inflicted by the accident,” said public information office Branden Jackman in an earlier press release.
According to an initial press release from Jackman, at approximately 2:16 p.m. Sunday the Highland County Sheriff’s Office was contacted via radio to have a medical helicopter dispatched to the station at 12500 US 50 approximately 10 miles east of Hillsboro Ohio.
Jackman said the firefighter/EMT was working with compressed air cylinders when he was critically injured by one of these cylinders. He was transferred to Kettering Medical Center via MedFlight helicopter.
“Paint Creek is being assisted on scene by members of the Highland County Sheriff’s Department as we continue to investigate this horrible accident,” said Jackman. “Please say a prayer for the members and families of Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire.”
The latest statement issued shortly before 1 a.m. Monday said, “It is our sad duty to report the Line of Duty death of Fire Fighter Joe Patterson of the Paint Creek Fire District in Highland County, Ohio. Fire Fighter Patterson lost his life in a tragic accident at the fire house on the afternoon of June 24, 2018. Memorial details will be announced as they are finalized.”
