Duty of Care

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Greg Witt, a firefighter with the Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District in Kane County, Illinois, suffered a medical emergency during a scheduled training exercise and later died, the fire protection district said on Sunday, October 25, as reported by NBC Chicago. Witt was a U.S. Marine veteran who had served with the department for seven years.

“Greg was a member of our family,” Fire Chief Christopher Reedy said in a news release. The nature of the medical emergency has not been released.

Until more is known, the defenses worth checking for any strenuous training are current medical evaluations and fitness programs, a safety officer and rehab with rest, fluids, and vital-sign checks at every drill, EMS and an AED on site, and a clear stop rule when anyone shows signs of distress. These are program and planning controls, not just individual toughness.

• NBC Chicago