The Fire Protection and Rescue Department announced that to honor the memory of Albinas Karaliūnas, a firefighter from the Lazdijai District Municipality Fire Service who passed away on May 27, on Friday, May 29 (the day of the funeral), at 9:00 a.m., it will initiate a Minute of Silence in all units of the State Fire and Rescue Service as well as in municipal fire and rescue services.
Read more Where new winds blow: one important Lithuanian sport faces danger, another – an opportunity
To honor the deceased firefighter, flags will be lowered at fire and rescue departments and services, firefighters on duty shifts will line up, and the blue lights of fire trucks will be turned on.
“Everyone who wishes to honor the memory of the firefighter rescuer is invited to join this act of respect. This loss once again reminds us how complex and dangerous the work of firefighter rescuers is and the high price that sometimes must be paid in the line of duty.
Due to this painful loss, the Fire Protection and Rescue Department community expresses sincere condolences to the deceased’s relatives, colleagues, and friends,” the department’s statement reads.
Collapsed at the fire scene
Having just celebrated his 60th birthday, A. Karaliūnas, along with other firefighters, was called to a fire in the Lazdijai district on Wednesday morning.
Edita Zdanevičienė, senior specialist of the Communications Department of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department (FPRD), informed 15min that the fire in the forest occurred in the village of Bartčiai (Lazdijai district, Veisiejai eldership).
Read more The fourth day in the Argentine highlands: it was hard even to breathe
It is reported that the firefighter from the Lazdijai District Municipality, A. Karaliūnas, who arrived from Veisiejai, suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed in the heat of the incident.
“At about 8:42 a.m., a firefighter from the municipal fire service was found unconscious on the ground at the scene; medical personnel were immediately called to the scene,” said Jolita Orentaitė, head of the FPRD Communications Department, to BNS.
“Before their arrival, the firefighter rescuer was resuscitated by our service colleagues; the arriving medics continued resuscitation, but at 9:29 a.m., the death of this firefighter was confirmed,” said the FPRD representative.
A. Karaliūnas was a firefighter rescuer of the Veisiejai team of the Lazdijai District Municipality Fire Service. He had worked as a firefighter rescuer for more than 30 years.
