An Oldham County firefighter died Saturday night after responding to a structure fire.
Sgt. Tom Petschke Jr., 53, suffered a medical emergency while fighting a fire in an abandoned structure Saturday night on North Buckeye Lane, north of Goshen and near the Ohio River. The fire spread to a wooded area and burned about six acres.
Petschke was transported to Norton Brownsboro Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Petschke was a member of Ballardsville Fire & Rescue.
The cause of death is pending an autopsy.
Petschke’s death marks the second time since October 29 that a firefighter in Kentucky has died while in service to their communities. K105 reported that Coon Creek Fire & Rescue firefighter, 39-year-old Lt. Regina M. Huffman, perished in a vehicular accident while traveling to set up a medical helicopter landing zone for someone injured in an ATV crash in Leslie County.
Two fire departments posted tributes to Petschke on their respective Facebook pages:
Ballardsville Fire & Rescue
It is with profound sorrow that we share the devastating news of the line of duty death of one of our members, Sgt. Thomas Petschke, Jr. Sgt. Petschke tragically suffered a medical emergency while bravely serving at a fire scene yesterday. He dedicated a decade of his life to selflessly serving the citizens of our community, and his loss is deeply felt by our entire department.
Sgt. Petschke was an exceptional firefighter and a cherished member of our department. His dedication, courage, and unwavering commitment to public safety were an inspiration to all who had the privilege of working alongside him. We ask that you keep Sgt. Petschke and his grieving family in your hearts during this unimaginably difficult time.
Our thoughts also extend to the firefighters who served alongside him and those who were with him yesterday, as they cope with the loss of their dear colleague and friend.
We are grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from our community, and we kindly request that you respect the privacy and sensitivity of this situation while reaching out for further details.
Sgt. Petschke’s memory will forever live on in our hearts, and his legacy as a dedicated firefighter will continue to inspire us all.
Thank you,
Chief Fante
South Oldham Fire Department
Our county suffered an immeasurable loss yesterday after the passing of Sgt. Tom Petschke Jr. while operating at a structure fire.
Tom was known by many in the county, and even went through recruit school with many of our members, and through that, created a lifelong bond shared amongst all departments in the county. Tom was an incredible firefighter, and an even greater human being.
We’d like to extend our thoughts and prayers to our family at Ballardsville Fire Department, Tom’s friends and family, as well as all other personnel who fought so desperately to help him.
(Photo to Sgt. Tom Petschke courtesy of Ballardsville Fire & Rescue)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
