Here is the full statement regarding the death of Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sacco. "Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement on the passing of Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sacco: “Our hearts, already broken by the loss of Captain Joel Barnes, also mourn the loss of Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sacco. In a testament to his own character, Chief Sacco lost his life while honoring that of his fallen brother, fellow firefighter Captain Barnes,” said Governor Mills. “I join with people across Maine in offering my thoughts and prayers to Chief Sacco’s family and friends, the Oxford Fire Department, and all of Maine’s first responders. The State of Maine has given two of its best to the Heavens.” Chief Sacco became Oxford Fire Chief in 2017, after retiring from the New Gloucester Fire Department where he had served for 12 years."<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Vigils & tributes to George Floyd one year since his murder ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. 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(Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East Fire chief died while at service for a firefighter who died (CNN) — A Maine fire chief has died while attending the public memorial service for a firefighter who died in a four-alarm blaze earlier this month. A statement from Oxford Fire & Rescue said Chief Gary Sacco, 63, suffered an “unknown medical problem” Sunday and was rushed to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The service was for Berwick Fire Capt. Joel Barnes, 32, who died on March 1. According to CNN affiliate WMTW, Barnes was battling an apartment fire. Robert F. Bukaty/AP The casket of Berwick Fire Capt. Joel Barnes is carried during a procession Sunday in Portland, Maine. Sacco had been the chief in Oxford for two years. “Chief Sacco was a consummate professional,” his department said. “Not only did he love the job, he had a passion for the fire service like no other. Chief Sacco was a respected leader, mentor, and positive role model. Chief Sacco was well liked by all members of the department and the community.” Gov. Janet Mills tweeted Sunday: “Our hearts, already broken by the loss of Captain Joel Barnes, also mourn the loss of Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sacco.” I join with people across Maine in offering my thoughts and prayers to Chief Sacco’s family and friends, the Oxford Fire Department, and all of Maine’s first responders. The State of Maine has given two of its best to the Heavens. (2/2) — Governor Janet Mills (@GovJanetMills) March 10, 2019 “In a testament to his own character, Chief Sacco lost his life while honoring that of his fallen brother,” she said in a tweet. “I join with people across Maine in offering my thoughts and prayers to Chief Sacco’s family and friends, the Oxford Fire Department, and all of Maine’s first responders. “The state of Maine has given two of its best to the Heavens.” She said in a tweet last week that Barnes died trying to save a fellow firefighter. CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
“Chief Sacco was a consummate professional,” the statement said. “Not only did he love the job, he had a passion for the fire service like no other.” Gary Sacco, 63, of the Oxford Fire Department, died of an unknown medical problem while attending the memorial for Berwick Fire Captain Joel Barnes on Sunday morning, deputy chiefs Shawn Cordwell and Paul Hewey said in a statement Sunday night. A Maine fire chief died Sunday after he suffered a medical emergency while attending a memorial for a fallen firefighter in Portland, officials said. The deputy chiefs described Sacco as “a respected leader, mentor, and positive role model,” and said he was “well liked by all members of the department and the community.” Sacco, along with other members of his department, had joined thousands of firefighters and community members at the service for Barnes, who died while battling a four-alarm blaze at an apartment building March 1 in Berwick, Maine. Firefighters saluted as the casket of Berwick Fire Captain Joel Barnes was lowered from the top of a fire truck following a procession leading to a memorial service on Sunday. Robert F. Bukaty/AP/Associated Press Sacco was rushed to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he was pronounced dead, according to hospital spokesman Matt Wickenheiser. Sacco became Oxford Fire Chief in 2017, after retiring from the New Gloucester Fire Department, where he had served for 12 years, according to Governor Janet Mills’s office. “Our hearts, already broken by the loss of Captain Joel Barnes, also mourn the loss of Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sacco,” Mills said in a statement Sunday night. “In a testament to his own character, Chief Sacco lost his life while honoring that of his fallen brother, fellow firefighter Captain Barnes. “I join with people across Maine in offering my thoughts and prayers to Chief Sacco’s family and friends, the Oxford Fire Department, and all of Maine’s first responders. The State of Maine has given two of its best to the Heavens,” she said. Funeral details are being coordinated with the family and will be announced in the next few days, according to the Oxford Fire Department. Maddie Kilgannon can be reached at maddie.kilgannon@globe.com.