Chief William "Bill" George, 74, of the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, died on July 4, 2026, from a cardiovascular event after responding to an emergency call for storm damage the previous day. His death marks the 54th firefighter fatality reported in 2026.
On July 3, 2026, at 7:05 p.m., Chief George was dispatched to an incident involving trees and wires down in Aquashicola, Pennsylvania. He and his fire department closed the roadway by placing multiple barricades and signage to prevent access until utility companies could respond.
Early the following morning, Chief George returned to check on the scene. At 10:58 a.m., he suffered a cardiovascular event at home and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Chief George had dedicated 50 years of service as a volunteer firefighter.