By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — The Rural Metro Fire Department mourns the loss of firefighter recruit Cody Treatch, who fell ill at the academy earlier this month and was hospitalized.
On Aug. 14, during his second day of academy training, Treatch experienced a heat-related emergency and was transported to the hospital for treatment, Rural Metro Fire Chief Karl Isselhard told Tucson.com.
His condition worsened over the week and Treatch died the morning of Aug. 23.
“Our focus is on supporting the Treatch family and our personnel as we all mourn the passing of Cody and work through this difficult time,” Isselhard said.
KGUN reported that a motorcade was organized to honor the fallen recruit, with participation from Rural Metro, the Tucson Police Department, Tucson Fire Department, Northwest Fire District and Davis-Monthan Fire.
Treatch was passionate about baseball, and his latest goal was to join Rural Metro to protect his community. Treatch’s father-in-law, Rick Twyman, owns the Havasupai Heat baseball team, where Treatch played the sport he loved and met his future wife, Kylee, KOLD reported.
Kylee is currently six months pregnant with their son, Hunter, according to Twyman.
“He’s one of my best friends,” Twyman said. “He’s my son-in-law, and I thanked him for everything he did for my daughter, and I promised him that I would take care of her and his baby.”
Kylee posted a handwritten letter on Facebook that he wrote to her before they were married.
