Firefighter Dies of Cardiac Arrest While Battling House Fire in Southern California

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.—A longtime firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority experienced a cardiac arrest and passed away Sunday morning while attending to a residential fire in Laguna Niguel, according to officials.

“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) reports the loss of Fire Apparatus Engineer Kevin Skinner,” the agency announced Sunday.

“Kevin sadly suffered a cardiac arrest early this morning while responding to a residential structure fire in Laguna Niguel. The incident took place around 4:56 a.m. While actively engaged at the scene, Kevin encountered a sudden medical emergency. Fellow firefighters promptly performed life-saving measures, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite their brave efforts, Kevin was unable to survive.

“Kevin Skinner was a devoted member of the OCFA family, serving with exceptional dedication and a steadfast commitment to the community. His absence is deeply felt among his colleagues and the numerous lives he influenced throughout his career.”

The fire ignited just before 5 a.m. Sunday in the 2900 block of Point Royale.

During a press conference later that morning at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where Skinner was transported and pronounced dead, OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy stated that Skinner and his crew were tasked with searching the home for any residents, but he informed his captain that he was feeling unwell. He was escorted outside to a paramedic unit where he collapsed and was immediately taken to the hospital.

Fennessy noted that Skinner joined the OCFA on July 3, 1999, after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years.

“Kevin was beloved throughout our agency and had a remarkable ability to make everyone around him feel at ease. His presence will be greatly missed,” the chief remarked.

Skinner is survived by his wife and three children.