Pennsylvania Fire Lt. Dies After Becoming Ill At Emergency Scene

[SeaBreeze]

Pennsylvania Fire Lt. Dies After Becoming Ill At Emergency Scene


HEATHER CASPI
Firehouse.Com News

A Pennsylvania fire lieutenant passed away Wednesday, June 30, a week after he became ill while assisting at a multi-vehicle accident and was hospitalized.

Lt. Kenneth Lipyance of the Churchill Volunteer Fire Company in Pittsburgh passed away "from an undetermined medical condition after responding to a vehicle accident," the fire department said in a prepared statement.

"Lt. Lipyance responded to a multi-vehicle accident, became ill and was transported to the hospital when he had difficulty returning to his residence," the statement said.

Lipyance was a seven-year veteran of the department and served as Second Lieutenant and Treasurer. He also served as emergency management coordinator for Churchill Borough and was a chairman of the local civil service commission.

He is survived by his father, brother, and his fiancee.

"He was a good guy," said Firefighter Dale Williams. Williams said the department could not release any further information.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the accident Lipyance assisted on June 22 was a fatal incident involving a van and a fire truck in Wilkins.

At 1:03 a.m. on June 23, Lipyance, 46, was leaving the Churchill municipal building when he lost control of his car and struck a guardrail, the paper said.

Williams said arrangements are being handled by the Bacha Funeral Home in Greensburg, with visitation Friday, July 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Churchill Volunteer Fire Company has 30 members serving Churchill and providing mutual aid to surrounding areas.


http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?id=32347&sectionId=39

[SeaBreeze]

Lipyance, Kenneth W

Age: 46
Cause of Death: Stress/Exertion
Rank: Lieutenant
Nature of Death: Stroke/Seizure
Status: Volunteer
Emergency Duty: No

Incident Date: 06/23/2004
Duty Type: Other
Incident Time: 01:03
Activity Type: Driving/Riding Personal Vehicle
Death Date: 06/30/2004
Fixed Prop. Use: Street/Road

Fire Dept. Info:
Churchill Volunteer Fire Company
2300 William Penn Highway
Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15235
Chief: Craig Robinson

Initial Summary:
Lieutenant Lipyance went to a call to assist with extrication at the scene of a vehicle accident involving a piece of fire apparatus and was not feeling good at that call. Upon returning to the fire station, the crew came upon another vehicle accident in front of the boro building that is also the fire station. Upon completing work at this scene, Lipyance again did not feel well and was walked back to the station by the Fire Chief (approx 300 feet). Lipyance rested and said he felt better then got into his private vehicle and as he went thru the parking lot it was noticed that he was going very slowly then went directly across the roadway (4 lanes), hit the curb, and came to a rest. Lieutenant Lipyance was transported to a local hospital then life-flighted to a trauma center in City of Pittsburgh. The cause of death was stroke and heart disease.

Memorial Fund Info:
C/o Churchill Volunteer Fire Company, 2300 William Penn Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15235


http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/ffmem/ffmem_detail.jsp?p_id=3043&p_fd_state_code=&p_first_name=&p_fd_city=&p_last_name=&p_mn_status=1&p_death_year=2004