A 16 1/2-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department died Saturday from complications of the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.
Firefighter and paramedic Jose M. Perez, 44, is survived by his wife and three children, according to the Fire Department. He’s the first LAFD firefighter reported to have died of COVID-19 and officials could offer no explanation about being treated in La Palma.
“Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and the entire Department send their deepest and most sincere condolences to the Perez family,” a statement from the department said.
LAFD late Saturday held a procession from La Palma to Perez’ final resting place near Whittier and thanked other agencies in “honoring our brother,” including the La Palma Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol for their participation.
A spokesman for the Fire Department could not confirm nor deny why Perez was being treated in La Palma or whether or not he lived here with his family.
At least 145 LAFD employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since March as 108 of them have returned to work and 36 of them are recovering or have recovered at home, the L.A. Times reported.
At the family’s wishes, the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Monday they could not provide any further information about Perez’s death.