ACFR Mourns Tragic Loss of Young Firefigher

On Tuesday, Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) announced the passing of paramedic and firefighter Samuel Fick. 

Fick’s mother told WUFT that her 23-year-old son died from suicide.

ACFR employees are in mourning and posted the following statement on their Facebook account: 

Today we are heartbroken as we share the news of Firefighter/Paramedic Samuel Fick's passing. 

Sam started with us as a Cadet in our firefighter youth program and became a full-time member of our department on March 13, 2020. He completed the Paramedic program at Santa Fe College in the fall of 2023 and was promoted to Firefighter/Paramedic in September 2023.

Families suffer loss, and sometimes those losses are just too big to put into words. In those moments, we need to lean on each other for strength.

Our thoughts, condolences, and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.