A captain from Kings County Fire tragically died Saturday night while responding to a house fire in Avenal, California. Mark Eads, who was 62 years old, served with the department for over 20 years.
Eads and an engineer were dispatched to a report of smoke in a structure on the 800 block of Skyline in Avenal, a city with a population of around 14,000, located about an hour southwest of Fresno. While at the scene, Eads suffered a medical emergency and was transported to Coalinga Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Eads began his career with Kings County Fire in 2003 as a fire apparatus engineer. He briefly left the department in 2004 but was rehired in 2005. He rose through the ranks and became a captain in 2021.
“Captain Eads was a dedicated firefighter who served the community with passion and commitment,” Kings County Fire said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Kings County is grateful for the years of service and dedication that Captain Eads provided to the department and the community.”
Blake Adney, a spokesperson for Kings County Fire, shared that Eads had a “great sense of humor” and “loved working alongside his brothers and sisters.”
Funeral services are currently pending.
