JESSE-GERHARD
New York, NY (77WABC)-A firefighter from Ladder 134 in Far Rockaway Queens died at a hospital after going into medical distress at his firehouse Wednesday afternoon.
The firefighter, identified as 33-year-old Jesse B. Gerherd, helped fight a a two alarm fire Tuesday afternoon at 25-43 Beach Channel Drive.
He suffered medical distress at his firehouse Wednesday and later died at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams during a morning press briefing at city hall said “the entire city mourns for the loss of this firefighter, a young man that dreamed to be a firefighter all of his life.”
Mayor Adams has ordered flags to fly at half staff in honor of the fallen firefighter:
As a mark of respect for the memory of Firefighter Jesse Gerhard of Ladder Company 134, who died in the line of duty, all flags, shall be lowered to half-staff until the date of Firefighter Gerhard’s interment, by order of the Mayor of the City of New York, Eric Adams. pic.twitter.com/oxHroMSDnc
— City of New York (@nycgov) February 17, 2022
Gerherd was a seven year veteran of the FDNY, working as an EMT before becoming a firefighter.
Interim Commissioner of the FDNY Laura Kavanaugh said, “I cannot express enough the extraordinary loss that this is to our department, he is exactly what we would want an FDNY member to be.”
Gerherd’s death came on the same day longtime FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro retired after 53 years with the department.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro retired today after serving the Department in seven decades. pic.twitter.com/aWFmeEdlSJ
— FDNY (@FDNY) February 16, 2022
Kavanaugh is serving in an interim role until a permanent replacement is chose by NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
