A San Francisco firefighter has died during a training exercise.
San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Baxter said firefighter and paramedic Jason Cortez died Wednesday morning after a training accident at about 10 a.m. Cortez was badly injured when he fell off a ladder at the department's training facility at 19th and Folsom St.
The 42-year-old was treated at the scene before being taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead before 11 a.m.
Cortez started his career with the department as a paramedic before graduating from the firefighter’s academy. He served at Station #3 in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
"We are thankful to all for the showing of support that has already come in to our department," Lieutenant Jonathan Baxter told reporters. "This is a very trying time, as Jason was well liked in our department."
Cortez was the child of a retired San Francisco firefighter and he is survived by his wife and two children. Firefighters participated in an emotional procession late Wednesday from San Francisco General Hospital to the city's medical examiner’s office in Cortez's honor.
Tributes have poured in from Bay Area fire departments.