OCALA, Fla. – Today, CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis honored Florida firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty during the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. CFO Patronis was joined by family members of the fallen and fire service personnel from across Florida to memorialize Joseph T. DeMarinis with the Clermont Fire Department and James F. Dorminy with the Reedy Creek Fire Department. Seven historical line of duty deaths were also recognized as part of today’s ceremony.
CFO Patronis said, “Firefighters are deserving of our unending gratitude for laying their lives on the line each time they report to work. Today, we honored those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others and lost their lives far too soon. By adding their names to Florida’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial, they will forever be remembered as the heroes that they are.”
Joseph T. DeMarinis tragically passed away on July 14, 2016, following a cardiac event that happened after a shift. Firefighter DeMarinis joined the Clermont Fire Department in August 2014. DeMarinis was also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served two tours in Iraq. He is survived by his parents, and his wife Brandi, and their five children, ages 1 to 17.
James F. Dorminy, a 23-year veteran of the fire service, tragically passed away on May 18, 2017. Following his May 9 shift, Lieutenant Dorminy went to the gym where he was later found in the pool in need of urgent medical attention. Days later, he was removed from life support and passed away. He is survived by his wife Lesly and their four children.
In addition to Firefighter DeMarinis and Lieutenant Dorminy, the following individuals were also added to Florida’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial, representing historical line of duty deaths:
James Russell with the Miami Fire Department who passed away on January 11, 1925, Sidney Houpt with the Miami Fire Department who passed away on March 7, 1926, Robert Knight with the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department who passed away on December 27, 1940, Sam Frazer with the Miami Fire Department who passed away on February 15, 1953, Norman Hasting with the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department who passed away on November 28, 1961, Joel D. Wooldridge with the Miami Fire Department who passed away on December 4, 1974 and Vern Gransden with the Miami Fire Department who passed away on October 29, 1977.
