The image emerging of the firefighter killed in a traffic crash on duty Wednesday is of a humble, hardworking family man, dedicated to his duties and especially to his three-year-old son.
Larenzo Douse died Wednesday, November 30, seventeen days after his 25th birthday, when he was hit by a car as he and a crew from the Ocho Rios fire station were completing a fire duty call in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
It was just before 3 p.m. near the end of their shift when they had completed responding to a fire call on Bull Point Road near Ocho Rios pier when Douse was asked to roll up and put in place the hose at the back of the vehicle.
He was doing so when a car slammed into the back of the fire truck, killing him.
Since that time, grief and mourning have swept across the firefighting community, not only in St Ann. It has become more intense as Larenzo’s father is an assistant superintendent in the St Catherine Fire Department.
It has also now been revealed that one of Larenzo’s uncles was also on duty with him on the call, at the time he was hit and killed.
The fire department has sprung into action with the commissioner himself reportedly visiting the men and women in Ocho Rios. Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie has also paid tribute and expressed condolences over Mr Douse’s demise.
Assistant Commissioner responsible for Area 2, Julian Davis Buckle told North Coast Times Lorenzo Douse was a very jovial, cooperative, and willing firefighter. She said he was hard working and prompt in response to instructions in carrying out his duties. Mrs Davis Buckle, the highest ranking female officer in the service, said she knew young Mr Douse well and also knows his father. “He always had a laugh, he was good at his duties, a good person,” she said. She even praised his penmanship which was admired.
Fire personnel have visited his mother as well as his aunt with whom he grew up, to offer condolences and support. And fire personnel in Ocho Rios have had counselling from a variety of groups.
They are expected Friday, December 2, to visit the mother of Larenzo Douse’s three-year-old son and the boy who is now without a father.
Friends of Mr Douse say he was very attached to the boy and spoke about him all the time.
In fact, a friend of his, graphic artist and creative Orville Wright from Mr Douse community of Moneague, St Ann, says he spoke with the fireman up to last week. “He was always talking about his son,” Wright said.
“He was hard-working, a humble man, and was doing everything for his son,” Wright said.
On many days after his shift with the fire service ended, Douse often worked at a car wash in Moneague to earn extra money. He was always looking for opportunities and even went on the overseas Work and Travel programme in 2016, friends say.
Douse did computer studies and electronics at Moneague College where Wright was his classmate in 2018.
Meantime, the driver of the car that crashed into the fire truck, killing Douse, is still in serious condition in hospital.
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