A firefighter in North Carolina died when the apparatus he was driving left the roadway while en route to an early morning fire.

The accident occurred while the department was responding on mutual aid to an arson-caused structure fire at approximately 1 a.m. While they were still about 4 miles from the fire, the 55-year-old driver suffered an apparent heart attack and lost control of the apparatus. The apparatus then left the roadway and struck a tree. Despite the efforts of the other crew members, the victim died at the scene.

For more information about this and other firefighter deaths in 2006, go to www.usfa.fema.gov/fatalities.