PAW PAW, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A Paw Paw firefighter who lost his life from a fallen power line while responding to Wednesday night’s ice storm on February 22 has been described as a devoted volunteer.
Paw Paw Fire Chief Jim DeGroff said Ethan Quillen, who had achieved the rank of Lieutenant, had been with the department since 2019.
The 28-year-old husband, father, and Marine Corps veteran died by electrocution while performing his duties around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on 30th Street near Red Arrow Highway in Van Buren County.
Flowers have been laid in front of the Paw Paw Fire Department to honor his life.
According to Michigan State Police, Quillen did nothing wrong as a branch fell on the line while he was standing nearby.
The Paw Paw Fire Department released a statement saying, “We would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for Ethan’s family, his friends, his fellow firefighters, dispatchers, and all the other emergency responders that are suffering from this tragic loss.”
Quillen is survived by his wife and young child.
