Hudson Valley Firefighter Suddenly Collapses at the Scene of Fire

A longtime firefighter suffered a medical emergency and collapsed at the scene of a fire in Fishkill, NY.

Thankfully, the Hudson Valley is home to a number of dedicated and community-minded people who choose to put aside their time and drop everything at a moment's notice to respond when we need them most.

Hudson Valley First Responders

First responders are a special group of people who sacrifice time and energy to help us when we are faced with an emergency, oftentimes with no questions asked. We call, they respond! Unfortunately, there are times when a first responder is the person who needs help.

That's what happened earlier this week in Fishkill, NY

Firefighter Collapses at Fire Scene in Fishkill, New York

It all started Monday, August 11th, 2025, at approximately 5:19 a.m., when the Rombout Fire Company in Fishkill was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 70 Mountainview Rd in Fishkill, NY. As firefighters arrived on the scene of the active structure fire, one of them suffered a medical emergency.

According to reports, Assistant Chief John Lucariello collapsed at the scene.

Fellow first responders immediately began life-saving efforts, and after attempting to "shock" him numerous times, John was pronounced dead according to the Yard Foundation website. Thankfully, the story doesn't end there, as Lucariello was immediately transported to St Luke’s Cornwall Hospital for treatment.

Miracles Are Possible

At the hospital, minutes later, a miracle happened: Lucariello began breathing again on his own, and his heart started beating. He was then flown to Westchester Medical Center and is currently in critical condition under the care of leading cardiac specialists, according to the Rombout Fire Company Facebook page.

Fundraiser for John Lucariello

As news of the incident began to spread across the Hudson Valley, the firefighting community quickly sprang into action and began to accept donations to help Lucariello and his family. You can donate online here. All donations will go directly to the Lucariello family to help cover medical bills, travel expenses, and lost income as they focus on bringing John home.

SEE ALSO: New York State Police Mourn the Loss of Dedicated Member

When more information is available, we will update this article. Until then, please join us in keeping Lucariello in our thoughts and prayers.