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NJ firefighter-EMT dies from COVID-19
Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said the death of 33-year-old Firefighter-EMT Israel Tolentino was “a clear line of duty death”
Duty Death: Israel Tolentino - [Passaic, New Jersey]
End of Service: 03/31/2020
By Laura French
PASSAIC, NJ — A New Jersey firefighter-EMT has died from COVID-19 complications.
Passaic Firefighter-EMT Israel Tolentino, 33, died early Tuesday morning, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said in an announcement livestreamed on Facebook.
“Tolentino courageously fought this illness but succumbed to complications from the COVID-19,” Lora said. “He was very dedicated to this city. Israel was a great firefighter, person, husband, son and father.”
Tolentino had been a firefighter since December 2018, and before that was a full-time EMT for the Passaic Fire Department, according to NorthJersey.com. After becoming a firefighter, he continued to work some shifts as an EMT and also volunteered with the city’s emergency response team.
“This is a clear line of duty death,” said Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said during the announcement Tuesday.
Tolentino is survived by his wife Maria, a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son.
Posted by Passaic City Mayor Hector C. Lora on Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Israel Tolentino, rest easy brother. Earlier today we received the devastating news that Passaic Firefighter Local 13...
Posted by NJ FMBA on Tuesday, March 31, 2020