Battalion chief Mike Zainfeld, a 25-year firefighting veteran of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, took his own life Thursday morning while in Thurston County, the fire agency and Kelso police reported Friday .
Zainfeld, 41, had been on leave and was not on shift or duty when he died. His death is related to a job-related injury incurred by occupational stress according to the release. As such, Cowlitz 2 Chief Dave LaFave told The Daily News, it is considered a “line of duty death."
“This hurts. We will remember Mike, his family, and what they contributed to our organization. They’re a big part of where we are today. I believe Mike would want us to move forward together. We will support each other and his family as we all get through this loss,” LaFave said in a prepared statement.