Firefighting captain dies after being shot while battling fire in California

The Stockton Fire Department captain who was fatally shot while at the scene of a garbage bin fire early Monday morning has been identified as a Modesto resident.

Capt. Max Fortuna, a 21-year veteran of the Stockton Fire Department, was shot just after 5 a.m. while at the scene of the fire at 142 Aurora St., north of Highway 4 in Stockton. Firefighters had been called to the fire around 4:45 a.m.

“As firefighters were extinguishing that fire, gunshots were heard and the fire captain of Engine 2 had been struck,” Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards said during a press conference Monday. “Firefighters quickly transitioned to provide EMS care for their fallen brother and transported him to the local hospital. I am devastated to report that fire Capt. Max Fortuna has succumbed to his injuries.”

Stockton police detained a 67-year-old man in connection with the shooting and recovered a weapon, but no other details were released. A motive and whether the attack was planned remain under investigation.

“This is my worst nightmare as the fire chief,” Edwards said, surrounded by dozens of fellow firefighters at Station 2, about a mile from the crime scene. “It’s a very, very sad day for this fire department.”

Mario Gardea, president of the Stockton fire union, said the number of firefighters at the press conference was a testament to the type of person Fortuna was.

“Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job ... don’t really know to many firefighters who enjoyed the job as much as him,” Gardea said.

The last time the department lost a firefighter while on duty was in 1997 when two firefighters were killed while battling a building fire, he said.

Fortuna, 47, is survived by his wife and two adult children.

“Capt. Max Fortuna was one of our heroes … this is a sobering reminder of many of the sacrifices our firefighters make day in and day out in service to our community,” said Stockton Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln.

This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 8:48 AM with the headline "Firefighting captain dies after being shot while battling fire in California."