Hundreds of persons lined the route as Sterling Fire Departments Lt. Garrett Ramos, who was killed in the line of duty early Saturday morning. The body of Lt. Ramos was being taken from CGH Medical Center to the McDonald Funeral Home. He was escorted by members from several other area departments.
The City of Sterling announced Saturday morning that on December 3rd at 11:04 p.m, 9-1-1 received a call of a house fire at 10031 Ridge Road in Rural Rock Falls. Sterling Fire Department responded to an automatic aid alarm to assist the Rock Falls Fire Department. Dixon City, Dixon Rural, Milledgeville, Prophetstown, Tampico, Polo, Harmon, Dixon Rural, Amboy, Mount Morris and the Chadwick fire districts assisted along with CGH EMS support.
In the early hours of December 4th, while Sterling Fire Lieutenant Garrett Ramos was inside fighting the house fire, the floor collapsed beneath him, necessitating a rescue operation. EMS crews attempted life saving techniques en route to CGH Medical Center where doctors continued their life saving efforts to no avail.
This is the first line of duty death in the history of the Sterling Fire Department.
Lieutenant Ramos was 38 years old and served with the Sterling Fire Department since October of 2012.. He leaves behind his wife and 2 young children.
It is a truly devastating loss to his family, the City family, especially his brothers in the fire service, and to the larger Sterling community said the City of Sterling. It was further stated He was an amazing individual of the highest caliber on and off duty.
Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said he was devastated by the news. He said in all of his years on the City Council he never knew a more positive, caring, professional person.
The Mayor has also ordered all flags in Sterling to be flown at half staff until dusk of the day of the funeral.
The City asks that you please keep his family and the brotherhood of Sterling firefighters in your prayers as we grieve the loss of one of the finest gentlemen one could ever meet.
The State Fire Marshal will be conducting a full investigation.
