A probationary firefighter, Sadia D. Williams, passed away on Sunday, August 24, while celebrating her recent graduation from the local firefighting academy.
The 21-year-old had recently graduated from Cadet Class 27 on Friday, August 22, according to a statement released by Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS.
WUSA reported that at roughly 1 in the morning, Williams fell from a four-story building on the 700 block of 16th Street in Northeast D.C., as she was celebrating her graduation, according to police.
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Shortly afterward, she was declared dead at a neighboring hospital.
Fire officials said she was scheduled to start her public service at Engine Company 13, located in D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront district.
According to fire officials, she was “a bright presence within our organization, a dedicated employee, and a rising professional.”
“Throughout her training at the DC Fire and EMS Training Academy, she displayed strength, commitment, and the promise of a meaningful career in public service,” a fire official stated. “The Department extends its deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all who served with her, and is working closely with her family during this unimaginable time.”
According to WUSA, police are looking into this incident. Police spokesperson Michael Russo stated that no foul play is suspected in her death.
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Dave Hoagland, who is president of the D.C. Firefighters Union, described Williams’ death as “a really tough loss for the department and all D.C. firefighters.”
“This is incredibly tragic news,” Hoagland said. He added, “We deployed our peer support team down to the training academy today to sit with her class and talk through things and their feelings and just to make sure that everybody’s processing everything.”
