We regret to pass on the Line of Duty Death of Freeport (IL) FD Firefighter/EMT Michael D. Pontius (IAFF Local 441). Firefighter Pontius, 58, passed away 2 says ago, on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from Line of Duty injuries sustained from exposure to toxic substance while operating at a house fire. It’s important to note that the fire that killed him was in 2001. Mike Pontius responded to a fire-just like you and I have many times before but all changed in an instant when Mike operated at “that” multi family dwelling fire on June 16, 2001. It was during this fire that Mike went down in the attic-from what seemed to be heat exaustion. The other Firefighters helped get him up, out and then cooled him down and at first things seemed to be okay for Mike. Doctors initially told him he suffered from heat exhaustion, he was cleared to go back to work 2 days later but Mike never fully recovered from that day. His health continued to decline.