VENTURA : Fire Captain, 28, Dies of Heart Attack
Flags are flying at half-staff today at the Ventura County Fire Department as firefighters mourn the abrupt death of one of their youngest captains.
Capt. Wayne Pulley, of Ojai, who would have turned 28 today, died about 11 a.m. Wednesday after suffering what authorities believe to be a heart attack, said department spokeswoman Sandi Wells. Pulley was on duty at Station 26 in Saticoy at the time, Wells said.
“He just basically went down,” she said. “The fire crew attempted to revive him, but he was in full arrest” when he was transported to Ventura County Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said Pulley did not respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Ventura County Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens said an autopsy revealed no evidence of heart disease, trauma or other common cause of heart attack. “We did not find any reason for it,” Stevens said. He said additional tests would be completed within a week.
Pulley joined the Fire Department in 1985. He was promoted to fire engineer in 1989 and to captain in 1990.
He is survived by his wife, Melanie, and his daughter, Kelsey. Funeral arrangements had not yet been made Wednesday.
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