“Hearts are heavy” after the death of Rivera, fire captain of Newark, NJ

Newark – A 49-year-old fire captain was considered a dedicated first responder and father as Essex County officials said his cause of death was yet to be confirmed Monday.

Carlos Rivera, of Sayreville, was found unresponsive Saturday morning inside the Newark Fire Hall of Engine 15 Ladder 7 at 269 Park Ave.

He was found alongside a retired firefighter who was also unconscious, according to acting Essex County prosecutor Theodore Stephens.

This man, whose identity has not been revealed, has been released from the hospital.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the members and family of the Newark Fire Department. May Captain Carlos Rivera rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏,” a Facebook post Publish of the East Newark Fire Department said Sunday.

“Our hearts are heavy. We will always remember Captain Carlos Rivera as a great firefighter and not only that but also a great leader, a true gentleman and a great friend to many of us. us,” another Facebook post, from the Hispanic Firefighters Association of Newark NJ, noted on Sunday.

Sunday, NBC New York reported that Rivera’s death had been an apparent overdose, citing unnamed law enforcement sources. The same report said the retired firefighter who was also found unconscious brought a controlled substance with him to the fire station on Friday night. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed this report.

Stephens said there were no preliminary signs of violence at the scene and the cause and circumstances of Rivera’s death are pending autopsy results.

“Please keep his family, his daughter, his friends, his team, the guys at Park Ave, in fact all of us in the NFD in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this. We are all from the family,” the Hispanic Message from the Firefighters Association also said.

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