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Rest in Peace Todd Litke, you will be missed
Firefighter remembered as "hero"
Flags at four Central District fire stations are flying at half-mast today in the memory of Todd Litke, who died Tuesday at his home. The veteran firefighter, in his 40s, is remembered as a dedicated employee who had put his life on the line for others.
By Jennifer Squires
SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
CAPITOLA — The off-duty firefighter who died Tuesday afternoon was remembered today as a hero who once helped an 80-year-old woman escape her burning mobile home.
Todd Litke was found unresponsive in his 42nd Avenue house around 4:45 p.m. A fire crew from his own department rushed to his aid, but Litke was pronounced dead at Dominican Hospital.
Police said they don’t suspect foul play. The Coroner’s Office will perform an autopsy this week.
“We don’t know what the terms are,” Central Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Clark said. “Our firefighters did find him and try to resuscitate him. We’re still waiting for some of the reports to come back.”
Litke, who was in his early 40s, had been with Central Fire, which covers Capitola, Live Oak and Soquel, for several years and had been both a paramedic and a firefighter, Clark said. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Litke earned accolades in November 2002 when he, two other Central Fire crew members and two sheriff’s deputies pulled Virginia Robertson from a back bedroom window of her Live Oak trailer seconds before flames flashed over the room. He and the other men were awarded commendation for their combined efforts to save Robertson from the Oct. 24 blaze.
“He was a hero,” Clark said.
After fire crews responded to Litke’s home, firefighters from Watsonville and Aptos/La Selva districts covered Central calls for several hours while the news of Litke’s death circulated.
“It’s just a shock to the system,” Clark said. “We’ve got some counseling going on.”
Today, the flags at the four Central Fire stations are flying at half-mast in Litke’s memory. The fire district will hold a community town hall meeting 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Fire administration office, 930 17th Avenue. The meeting is open to the public to share memories about Litke and ask questions. A chaplain and grief counselors will be available.
Todd was one of my first partners we worked together for quite a long time. We shared holidays and good times. His wife and daughter deserved to have him around longer.
When I spoke with his wife today she was in shock. It is times like this that make one realize just how fragile life is. I will miss Todd dearly, sadly not as much as his 4 year-old daughter or his wife.
I love you Todd - Rest in peace.
Flags at four Central District fire stations are flying at half-mast today in the memory of Todd Litke, who died Tuesday at his home. The veteran firefighter, in his 40s, is remembered as a dedicated employee who had put his life on the line for others.
By Jennifer Squires
SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
CAPITOLA — The off-duty firefighter who died Tuesday afternoon was remembered today as a hero who once helped an 80-year-old woman escape her burning mobile home.
Todd Litke was found unresponsive in his 42nd Avenue house around 4:45 p.m. A fire crew from his own department rushed to his aid, but Litke was pronounced dead at Dominican Hospital.
Police said they don’t suspect foul play. The Coroner’s Office will perform an autopsy this week.
“We don’t know what the terms are,” Central Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Clark said. “Our firefighters did find him and try to resuscitate him. We’re still waiting for some of the reports to come back.”
Litke, who was in his early 40s, had been with Central Fire, which covers Capitola, Live Oak and Soquel, for several years and had been both a paramedic and a firefighter, Clark said. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Litke earned accolades in November 2002 when he, two other Central Fire crew members and two sheriff’s deputies pulled Virginia Robertson from a back bedroom window of her Live Oak trailer seconds before flames flashed over the room. He and the other men were awarded commendation for their combined efforts to save Robertson from the Oct. 24 blaze.
“He was a hero,” Clark said.
After fire crews responded to Litke’s home, firefighters from Watsonville and Aptos/La Selva districts covered Central calls for several hours while the news of Litke’s death circulated.
“It’s just a shock to the system,” Clark said. “We’ve got some counseling going on.”
Today, the flags at the four Central Fire stations are flying at half-mast in Litke’s memory. The fire district will hold a community town hall meeting 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Fire administration office, 930 17th Avenue. The meeting is open to the public to share memories about Litke and ask questions. A chaplain and grief counselors will be available.
Todd was one of my first partners we worked together for quite a long time. We shared holidays and good times. His wife and daughter deserved to have him around longer.
When I spoke with his wife today she was in shock. It is times like this that make one realize just how fragile life is. I will miss Todd dearly, sadly not as much as his 4 year-old daughter or his wife.
I love you Todd - Rest in peace.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Pimentel on
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James,
I knew Todd also. Thank you for starting this forum.
Todd,
You will be missed by all that knew you. I remember you, me, and Jeff going to Lyon's lake and getting our 4X4's stuck in the snow and mud. We filled your truck with mud and mine went into a gully. You left us to get help, Jeff was so worried about dying in the snow that he started digging in the snow with his hands, night came and you returned with two other trucks. We tied all three trucks together and we made it out and had a great laugh.
I remember Paramedic school like it was yesterday. We would all go to El Torito's for lunch every class day. We showed up to our oral boards in shorts and everyone else was in suits, we had a great laugh. We learned alot and had a lot of fun. I miss those Jet-Sking days. I am glad you were able to achieve your dream of becoming a firefighter. I know it was your dream job, you always spoke about it. We will keep you and your family in our prayer's.
You are a Hero and you will never be forgotten! Your brothers in blue have your watch rest in peace brother.
Jerry
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Permalink Reply by Terry Lambert on
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Sorry about you loss. We will keep you in our prayers.
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Permalink Reply by Cori Litke on
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Jim,
Thanks for starting this forum. Todd always talked about you and Jen and couldn't wait for you to return to CA.
Jerry,
Get my personal email from Jim. I would love to talk to you and share more stories. I am going to be making a scrapbook for our daughter and any stories that I can share with her will mean a lot to us.
To all others who posted and didn't know my husband. Thank you for your kind words. It really means a lot to me and will mean a lot to our 4 year old daughter when she is old enough to understand.
xoxo
Cori Litke
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