Chief Engineer Eugene Cervi, 60, a fixture at the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company in McHenry, Md., collapsed after responding to a possible water rescue call and later died at the hospital. Cervi was behind the wheel of the company apparatus and helped launch the department’s boat during the Sunday evening run. The veteran volunteer, well known around Deep Creek Lake, is being mourned by fellow firefighters and residents across Garrett County.
What Happened
The call came in late Sunday evening and wrapped up at about 8 p.m., when crews cleared a possible water rescue incident. According to a post from Westerville Fire 150th, Cervi drove Deep Creek’s apparatus to the scene and helped deploy the department’s boat before suffering a cardiovascular event. He was transported to a hospital, and the post describes the incident as an apparent line-of-duty death for the Deep Creek volunteers.
Obituary And Service Details
An obituary first shared by Newman Funeral Homes and republished on TributeArchive confirms that Cervi died the next day, Monday, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. The notice states he was 60 and had served with the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company for about 40 years, including 16 years as a captain and the last 10 years as a top responder. Friends will be received at Crossroads Church in Oakland, with funeral services scheduled for Thursday, and the obituary requests that expressions of sympathy be directed to the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
Cardiac Events Still The Leading On-duty Medical Threat
National data show that sudden cardiac events remain the most common medical cause of on-duty firefighter fatalities, and the risk can climb during strenuous responses such as water rescues. Recent analysis by the National Fire Protection Association highlights cardiac issues as a significant share of fatal firefighter injuries, and CDC/NIOSH investigations have repeatedly urged departments to use medical screening and fitness programs to help lower those risks. Local volunteer departments say they take those findings seriously, folding training and health checks into their regular readiness routines.
How To Honor Him
The Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company has protected the lake region for decades, and Cervi’s death has prompted an immediate and heartfelt response from the community. As noted in the funeral notice, anyone wishing to honor him is encouraged to direct expressions of sympathy to the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department, and full visitation and service details are listed in the obituary. Contact information for the company can be found on the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company contact page, and Cervi’s family and the volunteers who served alongside him are front of mind for many in Garrett County this week.
