Island Park Fire Captain Michael Fischer, 38, suffered cardiac arrest and died moments after helping fellow firefighters set up for the fundraiser Sunday morning.

The department was organizing a clam eating event at Peter’s Clam Bar for the 7-year-old son of a fire commissioner in neighboring Oceanside.

Firefighters had just erected an arch for the fundraiser when Fischer fell to the ground. A doctor at the scene and firefighters provided immediate first aid, but were unable to revive him.

News 12 reports that the fundraiser went ahead as planned because Fischer’s fellow firefighters knew, to a person, that’s what he would have wanted.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, Captain Michael Fischer, 38, of the Island Park (NY) Fire Department, had participated in a morning training event, then rode on an engine company to where firefighters were holding a fundraiser. Arriving at the event, Captain Fischer went into the bathroom to wash up, then returned to the dining area, when he suffered an apparent heart attack. EMS personnel at the scene performed lifesaving measures, but were unsuccessful. Captain Fischer was pronounced deceased at the scene.

He had nine years of service.