LAFD captain dies from complications of COVID-19
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Fire Department is mourning one of their own after a fire captain died due to complications from COVID-19.
LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas made the announcement on New Year’s Day.
"It is with a heavy heart on this first day of the new year that we announce the death of LAFD Captain I George Roque, who passed away earlier today at an area hospital from complications of COVID-19,'' Chief Terrazas said in a statement.
Captain George Roque was a 22-year LAFD veteran. He was assigned to Fire Station 97 in the Laurel Canyon/ Mulholland area.
Roque is survived by his wife and four children.
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He is the second LAFD employee to die from COVID-19. Firefighter and paramedic Jose Perez passed away in July 2020.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 600 LAFD firefighters have tested positive. Over a dozen were hospitalized. Another 450 have recovered from the virus and returned to work.
RELATED: LAFD receives enough COVID-19 vaccines for nearly all firefighters, paramedics
On Dec. 28, the fire department received 3,200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, allowing it to administer first doses to "virtually everybody'' at the department, Mayor Eric Garcetti stated during a press conference that day.
Vaccines were also administered throughout the week to the remaining members of the department.
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