From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE — A Springville firefighter that died on Monday, June 17, 2019, during training in east Alabama, is being remembered as a hero.
Jared Echols was a firefighter and paramedic. Echols started as a volunteer firefighter with the Pleasant Hill Fire Department in 2015. He had completed several courses with the Alabama Fire College and he started working with the Springville Fire Department in January of 2019.
Springville Fire Chief Richard Harvey held a press conference Tuesday. Harvey said he has known Echols most of his life. He not only worked with him, but also went to church with him.
“Jared will be remembered for his infectious smile, his unending generosity and his servant’s heart,” said Harvey. “He had a steadfast love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and because of that, I know that right now Jared is in good hands.”
Harvey said Echols was undergoing mandatory training at the Firefighter Bridge Program at the Anniston Regional Training Center when he started experiencing difficulty. He was doing a search of a tower that replicates what firefighters experience in real-life situations.
“They were in the process of doing job performance requirements for search and rescue…he was no more than 15 to 20 minutes in that training,” said Harvey.
He was taken to rehabilitation then transported to Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. Harvey said Alabama Fire College had been medically-monitoring Echols and found no problems. He had also had a physical prior to employment.
Matt Russell, the executive director of the Alabama Fire College, said Echols’ body was taken to UAB Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Russell believes the death was medical-related. He said there was no evidence of a training accident.
Harvey said he vows to find out what happened to Echols and to make sure it never happens again.
“It’s tragic when we lose a fireman that’s doing search and rescue in a fire situation,” he said. “But it’s unacceptable to lose firemen when we’re in training.”
The State Fire Marshall’s Office has taken over the investigation.
Funeral arrangements have not been finalized. Echols leaves behind a wife and two daughters, ages five and 18-months.
Harvey said the community support has been overwhelming.
“The phone calls and the hugs and all of that has come from our community,” said Harvey. “We hear about it, we think about it and we hear about New York and we hear about firefighters lost in Pheonix and big cities, but just pray for Alabama.”
Harvey said his firefighters are well-trained and aware about the high risk of the job.
“It is about a servant’s heart,” Harvey said. “That’s why we get into this business. It’s not a job, it’s a calling.”