Local firefighter killed in freak accident | News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jason Bishop, 39, died in a tree-cutting accident that occurred Saturday, just after noon off Mallorca Court. According to Sgt. Dan Janson of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Bishop's father was with him when the accident occurred.

Bishop was about 30 to 40 feet above ground cutting a branch that had forked at the top of an oak tree when the branch, which was tied by a rope, fell like a pendulum and struck the trunk of the dead tree.

Fellow firefighters gathered at Station 4 to remember the fallen firefighter. The American flag was placed at half-mast in honor of Bishop as well. He worked at the downtown station for about nine years.

"Jason was a great guy. He was professional, fun, he was reliable. I mean, that's the most honest way I can describe him is reliable," recalls fellow firefighter, Eric Prosswimmer.

First Coast News