Firefighter Death Notification – Hot Springs Firefighter Dies After Assisting With Search

MADISON COUNTY – Firefighter Johnny Norton, of the Hot Springs Fire Department, Madison County Fire Station 3, died Thursday morning at Mission Hospital.

Firefighter Norton had been assisting on a search prior to his medical emergency. He later collapsed after the incident, approximately twenty hours later.

He was taken to Mission Hospital, where he was put on life support.

He passed away Thanksgiving morning.

Arrangements are pending, and will be posted when available.

Update from US Fire Adminsitration

Name: Johnny Lynn Norton

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 56

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 37

Date of Incident: 11/21/2011

Time of Incident: 1547hrs

Date of Death: 11/24/2011

Fire Department: Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department

Address: PO Box 218, 78 S Andrews AVE, Hot Springs, NC 28743

Fire Department Chief: Josh Norton

Incident Description: Firefighter Norton and other members of his fire department were called out for a missing person search and rescue operation. The next day, after the hiker had been successfully found, Norton was at his residence when he was stricken by an apparent heart attack. He was treated and transported to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, where he passed away on the 24th of November.

Incident Location: Appalachian Trail in the Hot Springs area.

Funeral Arrangements: Receiving of friends will be from 1700-2100hrs on 11/26/2011 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home in Mars Hill, NC at 7626 NC Hwy 213; funeral services will be held at 1400hrs on Sunday, 11/21/2011, at Solid Rock Full Gospel Church in Hot Springs, NC, at 4154 US Hwy 25-70.

Graveside services to be held following the funeral at Fairview Cemetery at 202 Fairview Loop Road, Hot Springs.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In memory of Firefighter Johnny Lynn Norton, c/o Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 218, 78 S Andrews AVE, Hot Springs, NC 28743.

Emergency Apparatus and Personnel are requested to be at Solid Rock Church at 13:00 hours if attending services. Parking for apparatus will be identified.

For additional information, contact Jeff Willis, Madison County Emergency Management at 828-649-9608.