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Hinsdale firefighters are mourning the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, 24-year veteran of the department who died yesterday afternoon after collapsing at the fire station while exercising.
Steve Tullis, public information officer for the department, said paramedics on duty were unable to revive Johnson, who was pronounced dead at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital shortly after Johnson collapsed around 4:30 p.m.
“It was a great shock to all of us. We all are in a state of shock right now,” said Tullis. “We lost a great firefighter, and it also is a loss to the village. Mark grew up in the Hinsdale area, and was a local guy.”
Johnson, a La Grange Park resident, began his career as a firefighter with the Hinsdale Fire Department in 1986, and quickly moved up the ranks.
Johnson was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2003 and deputy chief in 2008.
“He was a leader here, and was the first one to volunteer to get certified as a paramedic in 1988 when the department went to in-house paramedics,” Tullis said.
Johnson also served as the department’s training officer, and was part of the MABAS Division 10 HAZMAT Team, Tullis said.
Tullis said Johnson grew up in Willowbrook and worked in Hinsdale many years ago, at a local department store and at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital.
No cause of death has been determined, and funeral service arrangements have yet to be made, Tullis said.
Johnson was taking part in a routine 40-minute exercise session when he collapsed.
Hinsdale firefighters are mourning the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, 24-year veteran of the department who died yesterday afternoon after collapsing at the fire station while exercising.
Steve Tullis, public information officer for the department, said paramedics on duty were unable to revive Johnson, who was pronounced dead at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital shortly after Johnson collapsed around 4:30 p.m.
“It was a great shock to all of us. We all are in a state of shock right now,” said Tullis. “We lost a great firefighter, and it also is a loss to the village. Mark grew up in the Hinsdale area, and was a local guy.”
Johnson, a La Grange Park resident, began his career as a firefighter with the Hinsdale Fire Department in 1986, and quickly moved up the ranks.
Johnson was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2003 and deputy chief in 2008.
“He was a leader here, and was the first one to volunteer to get certified as a paramedic in 1988 when the department went to in-house paramedics,” Tullis said.
Johnson also served as the department’s training officer, and was part of the MABAS Division 10 HAZMAT Team, Tullis said.
Tullis said Johnson grew up in Willowbrook and worked in Hinsdale many years ago, at a local department store and at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital.
No cause of death has been determined, and funeral service arrangements have yet to be made, Tullis said.
Johnson was taking part in a routine 40-minute exercise session when he collapsed.
