Lucas Shepard, El Dorado County FPD’s fire marshal, drowned while snorkeling off Kauai
El Dorado County fire marshal Lucas Shepard died while snorkeling in the waters off Kauai, according to news reports.
Shepard, fire marshal and a division chief at El Dorado County Fire Protection District, was vacationing with family on the Hawaiian island when he died Friday.
Kauai Fire Department rescuers rushed to the island’s Kaakaaniu Beach, also known as Larsen’s Beach on a call of a distressed swimmer after Shepard became separated from his group in the water, Honolulu television station KITV reported.
The rescuers retrieved an unresponsive Shepard and tried unsuccessfully to revive him on shore before pronouncing him dead.
Shepard was recently promoted from fire captain to the dual positions for the department that protects areas around Placerville and the Highway 49 corridor, in December, district officials said Monday in a statement announcing his sudden death.
Shepard, a resident of Diamond Springs, was 43 and leaves behind a wife and three sons.
“Chief Shepard dedicated his career to serving the El Dorado County community with unwavering commitment and professionalism,” the district’s statement read. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Chief Shepard’s legacy of service will not be forgotten.”
Shepard began his fire service career in March 2006 as an apprentice firefighter and became a firefighter paramedic the following year after graduating from the Sacramento Regional Fire Academy. He steadily rose through the ranks earning promotion to fire captain and prevention specialist in April 2021 where he brought his “passion for fire prevention and safety education to the forefront,” according to the district.
Less than three years later, in December 2024, Shepard was tapped again to become division chief and fire marshal. Photos accompanying the district’s announcement show Shepard in his district dress uniform with family pinning his new rank to his collar at his February promotion ceremony while fellow firefighters look on.
Condolences from friends and colleagues flooded the Fire Protection District’s Facebook page on word of Shepard’s death expressing shock and sadness at his loss.
Information on services was not immediately available.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 10:29 AM.
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