Veteran Chicago firefighter dies from COVID-19 complications

CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago firefighter with more than 16 years of experience died Tuesday night from complications of COVID-19, the department said.

Mario Araujo, 49, joined the department in October 2003 and spent most of his career working in the Rogers Park neighborhood, department spokesman Larry Langford tweeted.

'œCFD members put themselves in harm's way without hesitation to selflessly uphold the oath they took to be there for every person they encounter during an emergency situation,'ť Fire Department Commissioner Richard Ford said in a statement. 'œFirefighter Araujo's service will never be forgotten.'ť

Currently 46 department employees have COVID-19. It wasn't known how Araujo contracted the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Langford told the Chicago Tribune that officials and the firefighters union would jointly 'œlook into details of (Araujo's) death to see how it will be classified."

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.