POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic who was killed off-duty in a fiery crash over the weekend on Interstate 4 is being remembered for leaving a positive impact on the department.
Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Dr. Hezedean Smith spoke Monday about 41-year-old Brian Herr and briefly recounted what his firefighters found while ultimately responding to the death of one of their own.
"We're all grieving at the loss of our loved one, Firefighter Herr, who was just starting out his career here in the fire service and fire EMS service," Smith said. "He was an outstanding member of our team and even though he was with us a short time, he demonstrated a positive attitude and demonstrated teamwork that was exceptional. He'll be greatly missed."
Smith said firefighters were called around 5:30 a.m. Saturday after reports of a car fully engulfed in flames in the median on I-4. After quickly putting out the fire, Smith said firefighters did a preliminary search and found a body in the driver's seat.
A secondary search led to the discovery of firefighter gear inside the car. Working with local law enforcement, authorities were able to confirm the car was registered to Herr, a Polk County Fire Rescue firefighter.
According to authorities, Herr was going west on I-4 between U.S. Highway 27 and Old Grade Road in Polk City when witnesses said he appeared to swerve into the middle lane just as another car was entering the lane. At no point, however, did it appear the two cars came into contact.
But as Herr's car swerved back into the inside lane, it began to hydroplane and spin, entering the center grass median and crashing into the group of trees, the agency said. The car then caught on fire.
Herr, originally from Chicago, was sworn in on April 14, 2023, and assigned to C-Shift on Rescue 7, fire rescue said. He obtained his paramedic certification at Pasco-Hernando State College and was selected to speak as his class representative for PCFR New Hire Class 23-02.
Smith said Herr’s death was like losing a member of the family.
On Saturday, as they combed through the vehicle, Smith described the heartache rescue workers experienced as they found firefighter bunker gear in the car and soon realized the victim was one of their own.
“It’s a very difficult scenario to be a part of,” Smith said. “Definitely, this was a very challenging incident for our team."
In his short time with the department, Herr had earned a reputation as a natural leader.
He represented his class at graduation and showed initiative among his fellow firefighters at the station where he was assigned – Rescue 7 in Polk City.
“He was a go-getter," Smith said. "Regardless of the volume of calls that they ran. Regardless, if he was at his home station or not."
Herr is survived by his two sons and mother.
On Monday afternoon, his colleagues with Polk Fire Rescue and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office honored him with a full escort, bringing his body from the medical examiner’s office to the funeral home in Bartow. Arrangements are still being made, but Polk Fire Rescue says a funeral will likely take place next week.
“Even though he was with us a short time, he demonstrated a positive attitude, and demonstrated teamwork that was exceptional,” Smith said. “He’ll be greatly missed.”
The crash is still under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Smith said.