US Fire Administration

The US Fire Administration has announced the official line of duty death of Lieutenant Rick Drake, 39, of the German Township Fire Department, on November 1, 2010.

Lieutenant Drake suffered a massive heart attack while on station. He and other members of German Township Fire Department had responded earlier to a report of a person having difficulty breathing. After clearing the run and returning to the fire station, Lieutenant Drake began conducting equipment checks. Shortly thereafter, his wife, who was visiting him at the firehouse, called 911 to report he was having severe chest pain. Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS, and German Township Fire Department personnel responded.

As he was being transported to the hospital, Lieutenant Drake suffered cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were initiated, but he was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Funeral Arrangements:
Viewing: 11/04/2010 from 1500-2000hrs and on 11/05/2010 from 0900-1000hrs, with funeral services to follow on the 5th, at the Garden City Church of Christ, 3245 Jonesville Road, Columbus, IN. Burial will take place at the New Hope Christian Church, 1404 West 400 North, Columbus, IN.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in honor of Lieutenant Drake’s U.S. Marine Corps service.

Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Rick Drake at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 73 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2010; 71 from incidents that occurred in 2010 and 2 from previous year incidents. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.....