A Thursday death has rocked the local firefighter community.
Jason Abalos, a 35-year-old husband, father and firefighter, died after years of battling a brain tumor. “This is going to have a deep impact on the department,” said Deputy Chief Spencer Lee with Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services.
Lee knew Abalos from his years working at JFES. Abalos was there when Lee was hired in 2008, Lee said, and he doesn’t remember ever seeing Abalos without a smile.