MADISON HEIGHTS, Michigan (FOX 2) – Engine 71 retired from the Madison Heights Hearth Division for years, housing Captain Jeff Brozich. The 20-year-old veteran died on March 1 whereas on obligation.

He fell asleep final Sunday evening however didn’t get up to an emergency name at 3 a.m. He had a coronary heart assault – he was solely 57 years previous.

“Within the wake of 2020, as we sailed by way of Covid and all that – I feel we had been all hoping for a contemporary begin for 2021 and sadly we face this tragedy,” mentioned Lt. Ray Gilson, of the service of Madison Heights Hearth.

Gilson says the entire division is in mourning however is now channeling that grief to assist somebody particular to the Captain – his 16-year-old daughter, Brianna.

“You ask anybody in regards to the captain and that is the very first thing they are going to say is how nice a dad he was and the way tremendous concerned he was and his entire world revolved round him. Brianna lady, ”Gilson mentioned.

A lady dealing with not solely the sudden lack of her hero father, but additionally the well being care of her mom.

“I discovered from Brianna’s uncle that her mom is at the moment being handled for breast most cancers,” Gilson mentioned. “Her mom is sick, so we simply do not know what the long run holds.”

So that they began a GoFundMe for Brianna, who hopes to sometime turn into a nurse practitioner. Beneficiant donations will assist with faculty or no matter it wants.

“We all know if he needed us to do something it will be to assist his daughter – so we really feel like we live for him – making an attempt to maintain his daughter,” Gilson mentioned.

Native companies and firefighters in neighboring communities are all stepping up to verify this teenager has help throughout this tough time.

“At occasions like this, the fireplace departments, these departments actually come collectively to assist one another – and that is the place the help for all of the departments within the space comes from, ‘What can we do to assist one another. Jeff’s household, do we actually need to assist? ‘ ” he mentioned.

Captain Jeff Brozich, a 20-year veteran of the fireplace service, died of a coronary heart assault on the age of 57.

Brozich additionally leaves behind his spouse – Lindsay Brozich – a Madison Heights cop and two younger stepchildren.

His demise devastated each departments – however discovered the energy and help of so many fellow first responders – in addition to the complete neighborhood.

“We’ll get by way of this and we’ll be there for Jeff’s household and Jeff’s daughter, so – we’ll get there,” he mentioned.

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