LODD: Denver FD Lt. Rich Montoya, 61

[Guest]

Very sad. My condolences to his family and the Denver FD. May he rest in peace.

TheDenverChannel.com

Veteran Denver Firefighter Dies From Injuries

Montoya Was 15 Shifts Away From Retirement

POSTED: 3:14 pm MDT May 21, 2006

UPDATED: 5:34 pm MDT May 21, 2006

DENVER -- A 61-year-old veteran Denver firefighter who suffered a heart attack while fighting a house fire a week ago died Sunday morning.

Lt. Rich Montoya was only 15 shifts from retirement when he was injured May 14. He had 30 years with the department, said fire department spokesman Lt. Phil Champagne.

Montoya was trying to get his crew out of a pitch-black bedroom when instead of going downstairs he stepped back into a second-floor bedroom and became trapped under a mattress.

Firefighters were alerted to Montoya's predicament by his Personal Alert Safety System, which is designed to sound off a high-pitched beep when a firefighter has been motionless for 27 seconds or more.

Since that Sunday fire, Montoya had been in a medically-induced coma, on a ventilator.

Montoya's family honored his living will and removed from life support Sunday morning. He died at about 10 a.m.

"The Montoya family, and the Denver Fire Department wish to thank all for their support, thoughts and prayers," a statement said.

On Sunday afternoon, in front of the Firefighter Memorial that will soon bear Montoya's name, Denver Fire Chief Larry Trujillo said Montoya died doing what he loved. Trujillo said he made the ultimate sacrifice by saving the life of a young girl.

The 16-year-old who was rescued from the burning home, Raquel Gutierrez, was in fair condition at University Hospital.

The fire occurred in the Swansea neighborhood of North Denver.

The cause of the fire has not officially been determined but investigators were looking at a cotton ball and a candle as the possible ignition source.

Montoya's fellow firefighters had been hopeful for a full recovery, but now they will wear black bands over their badges until he is buried. Fire stations throughout Colorado are flying their flags at half staff.

The last firefighter killed in the line of duty was Robert Crump in August 2000.

Donations are being accepted to the Richard P. Montoya Memorial Fund, at any local 1st Bank location.

Edited May 22, 2006 by hoss

[Guest]

Montoya, Richard 

Age: 61 

Cause of Death: Caught or Trapped 

Rank: Lieutenant 

Nature of Death: Asphyxiation 

Classification: Career 

Emergency Duty: Yes   

Incident Date: 05/14/2006 

Duty Type: On-Scene Fire 

Incident Time: 04:30 

Activity Type: Search and Rescue 

Death Date: 05/21/2006 

Fixed Prop. Use: Residential 

Fire Dept. Info:

Denver Fire Department

745 W. Colfax Ave.

Denver , Colorado  80204

Chief: Larry Trujillo

 

Initial Summary:   

Lt. Montoya was critically injured while fighting a fire on the 2nd floor of a two story house on 05/14/2006. 

The fire started around 4:30 a.m. 

There were four people in the home at the time of the fire.

Three of them got out safely. A 16-year-old was rescued by firefighters. 

It was following this rescue that Lt. Montoya ran into trouble.

Preliminary reports indicate that he backed into a room accidentally instead of exiting the home and became trapped in heavy smoke and heat conditions. 

Lt. Montoya suffered smoke inhalation and went into cardiac arrest.  He was rescued by other firefighters who were alerted by his PASS device.

Lt. Montoya was transported to the hospital and spent a week in a drug-induced coma on a ventilator. 

He was taken off life support and passed away at 0955hrs, 05/21/2006.

Montoya was just 2 months away from retirement.

 

USFA

[firecapt32 282]

here is another reason to be carefullout there!! a tragic death. a 31 year veteran 15 shifts short of his retirement and he makes a mistake that costs him his life, this is a dangerous business that we are in dont ever forget it. when a 32 yr vet can do something that gets him turned around so that he getsa trapped under a matress, think what a smartass firefighter one can do in any given department in westchester. do not let this happen to you.

I know it cant happen to you im sure thats a comfort but believe me its not true not by a long shot..

the number of firefighter deaths are rising again 38 as of this afternoon way way too many.

[Guest]

credit: Denver Post/Helen Richardson