Maryland Firefighter Helps Even After Death

ARBUTUS, Md.-- Jarrett Dixon was a man with many titles -- father, paramedic, firefighter, mentor, friend.

And, Baltimore County Firefighter/Paramedic Dixon, 36, was also an organ donor. So even now, he continues to help strangers.

"That's just the way he was," Capt. Ed Sipes said. "He did things because he wanted to, not because he wanted credit..."

While on a treadmill in Station 5 on Jan.9, he started experiencing chest pains. He got into the back of a unit, and hooked himself up to a monitor. "He read his own strip. He told me: "I've got to go to the hospital."

He was transported to St. Agnes Hospital. Later, he was transfered to Union Memorial Hospital for a catheterization.

He was released to go home. However, he went into cardiac arrest at his house on Jan. 12, and was rushed back to the hospital where he died.

A former flight medic with MedStar, Dixon pursued his dream of becoming a career firefighter in Baltimore County. But, he remained active with the Liberty Road Vol. Fire Company.

Sipes described Dixon as a dedicated firefighter who went the extra mile for others. "As a paramedic, he was a mentor for new people. He helped recruits preparing for entrance tests."

He also was slated to teach his first class as an instructor for Maryland Fire-Rescue Institute (MFRI) soon.

Last year, a co-worker lost her mother in a house fire, Later, Dixon returned with her to the scene to search through the charred rubble. "It's the kind of person he was -- someone you could count on. He didn't talk about the things he did."

Funeral Information

Visitation will be held at the Vaughn Green Funeral Home on Wednesday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A traditional Irish wake will be held at the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A funeral -- with full fire department honors -- will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Bernadine's Church on Edmonston Avenue. Interment will be in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville.

Personnel with questions about participating should contact 410-307-2052.