SHAWNEE, Kan. - The Kansas Fire Marshal says a Johnson County firefighter who died battling a house fire had removed his [SCBA] mask after getting sick.



Thirty-three-year-old John Glaser died May 22, the first Shawnee firefighter to die in the line of duty.

Thursday's report said Glaser had eaten two large meals and gone on three calls in the hours before responding to an evening house fire in Shawnee.

Glaser entered the house after neighbors mistakenly reported the homeowner and his pets were inside.

At some point, the report says, Glaser vomited and removed his mask to clear the nose cup and face piece. He apparently became disoriented by toxic gases and collapsed before he could get the mask back in place.


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