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TyVaughn Eldridge

Firefighter Recruit

The first day of physical training for Firefighter Recruit Eldridge and his Career Recruit School with 63 class members with Chesterfield County Fire and EMS began at 8:00 a.m. with stretching and warm up exercises in preparation for a 2-mile jog. The class began the jog at a pace of approximately 10 minutes per mile. The jog was led by an instructor with instructors following the group.

At about the 1.4 mile mark, Firefighter Recruit Eldridge began to slow his pace and then stopped jogging. He told an instructor that he was alright. The instructor directed him to sit down and then to lay down.  Firefighter Recruit Eldridge began to experience difficulty breathing.  Firefighters and paramedics treated him, and he was transported to the hospital. Firefighter Recruit Eldridge died on July 3, 2021. The cause of death was listed as hyperthermia.


photo of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
TyVaughn Eldridge was included in the USFA’s annual report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.

Department information

Chesterfield County Fire and EMS
6731 Mimms Loop
Chesterfield, Virginia 23832

Chief: Edward Loy Senter, Jr.

Age: 26
Rank: Firefighter Recruit
Classification: Career
Incident date: July 1, 2021 8:30 a.m.
Date of death: July 3, 2021
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Heat Exhaustion
Activity type: Fitness Activity
Emergency duty: No
Duty type: Training
Fixed property use: Store/Office

Last updated: July 07, 2022