Duty Death: Gerardo “Jerry” Pacheco - [Houston]
End of Service: 03/08/2020
By Laura French
HOUSTON — A Houston firefighter-paramedic has died due to COVID-19 complications.
Firefighter-Paramedic Jerry Pacheco, who served with the department for 17 years, died Monday morning, according to KHOU.
“Jerry leaves behind a loving family, including a son in the Houston Fire Department, many friends and a long list of Houston firefighters who respected and enjoyed serving with him,” Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Patrick M. Lancton said in a statement. “We mourn the loss of our friend. His tragic death is another reminder to be vigilant in our efforts to keep our families, friends and station crews safe in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Houston Fire Department has been hard-hit by the pandemic; Chief Samuel Peña reported last month that at least 300 firefighters had been quarantined due to virus exposure.
Pacheco is the second fire department member to die from COVID-19. Capt. Leroy Lucio, a 29-year department veteran, died on July 20 from the virus.