‘Hearts are heavy’ after death of Newark, NJ fire captain Rivera

Newark – A 49-year-old fire captain was remembered as a dedicated first responder and father as Essex County authorities said the cause of his death was still unconfirmed Monday.

Carlos Rivera, of Sayreville, was found unresponsive Saturday morning inside the Engine 15 Ladder 7 Newark Fire Station at 269 Park Ave.

He was found next to a retired firefighter who was also unconscious, according to Acting Essex County District Attorney Theodore Stephens.

That man, whose identity was not released, has been released from the hospital.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the members and family of the Newark Fire Department. May Capt. Carlos Rivera rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏,” an East Newark Fire Department Facebook post said Sunday.

“Our hearts are heavy. We will always remember Capt. Carlos Rivera as a great firefighter and not only that, but a great leader, a true gentleman and a great friend to many of us,” another Facebook post from the Newark NJ Hispanic Firefighters Association said on Sunday. .

On Sunday, NBC New York reported that Rivera’s death appeared to be an overdose, citing unnamed law enforcement sources. The same report said that the retired firefighter who was also found unconscious had brought a controlled substance to the firehouse on Friday night. The authorities, however, have not publicly confirmed this report.

Stephens said there were no preliminary signs of violence at the scene and Rivera’s cause and manner of death were pending autopsy results.

“Please keep his family, his daughter, his friends, his team, the Park Ave guys, in fact all of us at NFD in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this. We are all family,” said the Hispanic. The publication of the Association of Firefighters also said.

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