Lake County firefighter died during training

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Firefighter Trainee Dies During Exercises

POSTED: 12:31 p.m. EDT September 19, 2005

UPDATED: 1:50 p.m. EDT September 19, 2005

Story by WESH.com

TAVARES, Fla. -- A Lake County firefighter died during training exercises this weekend

Kevin Enfinger, 23, of Groveland, collapsed while doing a warm-up jog, WESH 2 News reported.

The flag flew at half-staff at Lake County's Fire Academy Monday. There was a somber mood as a class of new recruits mourned the death of the firefighter in training.

The trainee collapsed Saturday during training exercises. Witnesses said he was running toward a building and was supposed to go inside and then run back out. Instead, he suddenly fell to the ground. CPR was performed, but they were unable to revive him.

"It's a real tragedy. This is the first time it's ever happened to us, and we feel real bad for the family of the young man, of course," said Academy Director Ron Williams.

Few details are being released about what may have lead to Enfinger's death. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, not a firefighter?s suit, when he collapsed.

This is the fourth death of a firefighting trainee in Central Florida in recent years. It's the first death at Lake County's Fire Academy, which has been operating for more than a decade.

The State Fire College will be investigating Enfinger's deat