Beloved Firefighter Killed In Lake County Accident

LAKE COUNTY, IL—A beloved firefighter died Thursday after a heavy piece of equipment he was operating flipped over into the water and trapped him inside. Mark Amore, who served as a firefighter with the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, was just 46 years old.

"There are no words to express what the Amore family and our fire family are going through right now," read a Facebook post by the fire department. "The sudden loss of a man with so much life and energy is beyond heartbreaking."

According to the Northwest Herald, Amore was operating a Bobcat machine at the Ben Watts Marina when the accident occurred. According to his Facebook page, he worked as a heavy machine operator for Pirtano Construction Company.

“He misjudged the edge of his seawall and rolled into the water,” Battalion Chief Larry Van Hoorelbeke of the Fox Lake Fire Protection District told the newspaper. “Unfortunately, [with] the configuration of the piece of equipment, he was pretty much trapped inside the operator compartment.”

In a Facebook post, McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett described Amore as a man with a heart of gold who knew how to light up a room.

"The amount of love he had for his family and friends was evident," Jett said. "You will be greatly missed by so many! My prayers are with the entire Amore family during this difficult time."

After announcing his passing in a heartfelt post, the community, many who knew Amore personally, flooded the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District's Facebook page with their condolences.

"I was fortunate to get hired in May of 2001 with Mark. He was truly one of the greatest people I have come to know. A great guy to work with, hang out with, and always made you smile. This is a devastating loss for so many. Rest in peace, brother," one person posted.

"Thoughts and prayers to the Amore family and the brothers and sisters of Local 4224. Mark was my partner and I taught him how to start lines before going to medic school. A loss to many," another person wrote.

Amore leaves behind a wife and two small children.