By Jaime DeLage
Pioneer Press
St. Paul, Minn. — A St. Paul firefighter died of a heart attack Monday evening after collapsing at his Merriam Park firehouse, the first loss of a city firefighter in the line of duty since 2009.
Firefighter-paramedic Shane Clifton, 38, collapsed after exercising at Station 14, 111 N. Snelling Ave. He was later pronounced dead at Regions Hospital, according to Fire Chief Tim Butler.
Butler, Mayor Chris Coleman and other officials expressed condolences to Clifton’s family and colleagues during a news conference Monday night at Fire Department headquarters.
“It is never easy when we lose someone that puts his life on the line on a daily basis and works so hard to save others,” Coleman said.
Clifton, who staffed Engine 14 and Medic 14, was on duty and was working out just after 5 p.m. Monday when he suddenly wasn’t feeling well and then collapsed at the firehouse, Butler said.
He was treated by fellow firefighters and medics at the firehouse three blocks north of Summit Avenue and then transported to Regions Hospital, where lifesaving efforts continued, Butler said. He was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. He had suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest.
Before joining the St. Paul Fire Department on Oct. 1, 2007, Clifton, a Navy veteran, worked as an emergency department technician at Unity Hospital in Fridley and at Allina emergency medical services.
Clifton was an extraordinary firefighter, a superb paramedic and strong as an ox, said Mike Smith, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 21.
“This is the hardest day,” a choked-up Smith said. “We’re not supposed to be trying to save our own. We do this ... for the citizens of St. Paul.”
With Clifton’s death, 63 St. Paul firefighters have died in the line of duty since 1854.
The most recent death in the line of duty was Ramon “Ray” Hain, who contracted a blood-borne pathogen while responding to an emergency medical call in 1996. The pathogen led to an infection that severely damaged his heart. He never returned to his firefighting duties and died in 2009 at age 50.
Clifton had two children who, along with his parents, will receive the support of the department and union.
The Station 14 colleagues who worked to save Clifton’s life were sent home to their own families and relieved by firefighters from other stations.
The firefighters at Station 14 late Monday remembered Clifton as a fun-loving and hard-working teammate. They said he did his time rotating through St. Paul stations until he was able to get the assignment he wanted, which was Engine 14.
“He loved his job and he loved being a firefighter,” said Capt. Dennis Jones.
HOW TO HELP
The St. Paul Fire Honor Guard is collecting donations for memorial markers at the fire stations or place of death of the department’s fallen firefighters. The plaques have been funded by donations from community members, families of the fallen firefighters and Hubbard Broadcasting. Additional donations are being accepted at stpaulfirehonorguard.org, where you can see a map of plaques and information about each fallen firefighter.
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©2015 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)