Former Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighter dies of cancer

Former Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District Lt. James F. Carney died Sunday after a three-year cancer fight.

Memorial bunting was hung outside the fire district's stations Monday to honor Carney, 43, of Wadsworth.

Carney joined the district as a firefighter-paramedic in 2000 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2006.

Carney loved the fire service. He was very serious about training but was a lot of fun to work with, Battalion Chief Jason McKenna said.

"Jim was an awesome guy," McKenna said. "He made coming to work fun."

Carney retired in December 2014 after being diagnosed with cancer.

The labor union representing the district's firefighters announced Carney's death on its Facebook page. In its statement, the Lincolnshire Riverwoods Professional Firefighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4224 said Carney suffered from "duty-related cancer."

When asked for clarification, a union representative said medical examinations showed Carney's cancer was caused by exposure to carcinogens and the chemical byproducts of combustion.

Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Marsh Funeral Home, 305 N. Cemetery Road, Gurnee.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of St. Patrick, 15000 Wadsworth Road, Wadsworth.

Interment is planned for Ascension Cemetery, 1920 Buckley Road, Libertyville.