WELCH, W.Va. — State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Robbie Bailey says Firefighter Jeffrey Lawson was just answering the call and doing his duty of saving others on his way to battle a structure fire in McDowell County when he tragically passed away.
A procession to return War Fire Department Deputy Chief Lawson back to his home in McDowell County was held Friday.
The procession started at Charleston Mortuary on Bigley Avenue at 11 a.m. Friday then merged onto Pennsylvania Avenue South to the intersection of Lee Street. It then entered onto Interstate 77 to make its way to Raleigh County before merging onto the Coalfields Expressway towards Mullens and Pineville in Wyoming County, finally ending at Douglas Mortuary in Welch.
Law Enforcement Officers from the State Fire Marshal’s Office led the procession. 
Bailey said Lawson died with honor as he was simply on his way to do what every good first responder does– serve those in need.
“When the call comes in they get up and go,” Bailey said. “Whether it’s a firefighter, a police officer, emergency medical services, emergency management, or any other emergency responder out here, that’s what they do, when the call comes in they get up and go and they don’t question things, they are proud to serve their communities, and they take great pride in that service.”
On Monday evening, War Fire Department was dispatched to back up Bradshaw Fire Department in McDowell County on a residential structure fire. This was during the time McDowell and other Southern West Virginia counties had already been devastated by high flood waters which swept through the area throughout the course of last weekend.
Bailey said that once War FD went enroute with a couple of pieces of fire apparatus, Deputy Chief Lawson started informing the driver that he didn’t feel well and that he thought he needed medical attention.
He said the driver of the truck immediately advised McDowell Control that they were going to need an EMS unit, so an EMS unit then met them en route to Welch Hospital.
But, Bailey said after performing life saving measures on Lawson at the hospital, it was unfortunately too late.
“By the time they arrived at Welch Community Hospital, the EMS crew was already performing CPR on Deputy Chief Lawson, so those efforts continued for a while there at the Emergency Room at Welch Community Hospital until he was finally pronounced deceased there after a while,” he said.
Bailey said all he felt comfortable with revealing at this time was that Lawson suffered a medical emergency but that he didn’t want to disclose any of his medical history for privacy purposes.
Lawson had grown up in the community of War, WV in McDowell County.
Bailey said early on, Lawson got involved with War Fire Department as a young man, marking the beginning of his life of first responder service.
“As time went on, he got involved with law enforcement there with War Police Department, and then moved on to Bluefield, West Virginia Police Department, and then as time went on too he ended up in Maryland and ended up at a police department there in Berlin, Maryland,” Bailey said.
He said while in Maryland, Lawson was also active with Ocean City Fire Department.
The Ocean City Fire Department posted an obituary for Lawson on their Facebook page. They said Lawson had impacted the lives of countless firefighters who he mentored and taught over his years of service there, serving as an instructor and mentor.
“Those who had the privilege of working alongside him, particularly his brothers from the legendary NEDHC crew, knew him as more than just a captain – they knew him as a friend, mentor, and dedicated firefighter who embodied the true spirit of the fire service,” the obituary stated.
“Captain Lawson’s influence on our department and its members will be felt for years to come. His dedication to teaching and mentoring others has created a lasting legacy that continues to strengthen our department.”
Bailey said Lawson dedicated his life to service and did so way beyond the borders of his rural West Virginia home.
“His years at Ocean City Fire and his years at Berlin Police are an important part of this picture too, and I think that’s one of the unique things about Jeff Lawson’s life and career is his service in two states, four different departments, more than that actually, just such of a cumulative effort of service within these communities in two states,” Bailey said.
A funeral service for Lawson is scheduled in War on March 1. He will then be buried in a cemetery in Bluefield, Virginia.