The tragic line-of-duty death of Firefighter Trevor Brown, 45, of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, has devastated his family and fellow firefighters and left local, regional, and national colleagues mourning his passing. Brown had been with the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System since 2016.

On Friday, Feb. 23, C-Shift of Fairfax County Herndon Station, Company 4, hung black bunting across the front of their firehouse, signifying their brother's death. Firefighters and medics work, eat, sleep, and socialize together on and off duty. It's more than a job or a profession; it is a lifestyle.

Brown died at the scene of a “catastrophic explosion” on Feb. 16  that destroyed a Sugarland Run home in Loudoun County. He and other firefighters responded to a suspected propane gas leak at 347 Silver Ridge Drive around 7:40 p.m. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Chief Keith Johnson informed Loudoun County supervisors that, following his request to the United States Fire Administration, that National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will become involved in investigating what led to Brown's death.

“They will fly in resources to be able to complete an objective look at this, which will follow the efforts of this board and be fully transparent when that report is done,” Johnson said. He added that two firefighters remain hospitalized, one with second-degree burns and another with second and third-degree burns. Both had long roads to recovery.

Johnson is asking for donations to the Loudoun First Responders Foundation at lfrf.org. A Celebration of Life for Trevor Brown will take place on March 4 at Cornerstone Chapel, 650 Battlefield Parkway, in Leesburg.

C-Shift at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue  Station Herndon 4 drape black bunting standing in solidarity and mourning the tragic on-duty death of Loudoun County Firefighter Trevor Brown.