A Georgia volunteer fireman died Thursday after suffering a heart attack while on the scene of a brush fire late last week, according to a news release from the town.
Steven Lapierre, 58, a lifelong Georgia resident, served as a member of the Georgia Volunteer Fire Department for more than 40 years, the town said. Lapierre is the first Georgia firefighter to die in the line of duty in the 64-year history of the department.
Lapierre suffered the heart attack on April 27 while helping fight the brush fire, news release stated.
“Steven Lapierre embodied the spirit of local public service,” said current Georgia Fire Chief Keith Baker in a statement. “As we mourn Steven’s passing we pay tribute and appreciation to the countless hours he spent making our community a better and safer place to live.” Lapierre was a career firefighter. He retired from the St. Albans City Fire Department in 2010, and also served as the town of Georgia's fire warden for nearly two decades, the news release stated. Lapierre's father, Lucien Lapierre, was the Georgia Fire Department's chief from 1967 to 1968, and he helped purchase the town's first fire truck.