Local police, firefighters escort body of fallen Highland County firefighter to Highland Co.

Fire crews out of Highland County are thanking local first responders for escorting the body of a fallen firefighter.

Paint Creek Fire District firefighter Joe Patterson died in an accident Sunday afternoon. Patterson was working with compressed air cylinders when he was critically injured. He was taken by MedFlight to Kettering Hospital, where he died.

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Branden Jackman, Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District spokesperson, said due to Highland County’s location between Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Patterson was taken to Kettering Medical Center by MedFlight.

Patterson died from his injuries, and local first responders escorted his body from the hospital to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office Sunday evening.

Monday afternoon, local first responders escorted the body from the coroner’s office back to Highland County.

“We can’t thank them enough,” Jackman said. “Dayton and Kettering really went above and beyond. We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It’s awesome to see the brotherhood kick in ... there are no department boundaries. At that point, we’re all firefighters.”

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Patterson had been with the district for three years. He was married and had step-children, Jackman said.

“Joe was just one of those good-hearted people,” he said. “You never saw him mad. You never saw him upset. He was just a good-hearted person.

Memorial details have not been finalized.

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