SBCFD -60-year-old captain - On duty stroke

A 60-year-old captain with the San Bernardino County Fire Department suffered a severe stroke Saturday while responding to a structure fire in the Angelus Oaks area in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Capt. Vance Tomaselli remained unconscious Sunday night, said Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman with the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The fire was reported at 12:54 p.m. at a caretaker's cabin at Camp Edwards, off Jenks Lake Road, said Tom Barnes, a dispatch supervisor with the department.

Tomaselli and another firefighter from the county's Angelus Oaks Station 15 were dispatched to the fire, Martinez said.

Tomaselli suffered the stroke while driving to the fire. As a result of the stroke, the captain lost control of the fire engine and crashed into a tree, Martinez said.

Neither firefighter was injured as a result of the crash. The other firefighter radioed for help and the captain was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Tomaselli arrived at Loma Linda at 2:29 p.m. and later underwent emergency surgery, Martinez said.

Officials with the department were not aware he suffered from health problems in the past, Martinez said.

Tomaselli has worked for the department for 27 years as a paid call captain, meaning he is paid each time the department calls for his services.

"Our prayers go out to him and his family," Martinez said.

He has a son who works with the U.S. Forest Service as a hot shot crew supervisor, Martinez said.

The fire burned the cabin to the ground, Martinez said. Another county engine and an engine from the Forest Service responded but were unable to save the structure, Martinez said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.