West suburban Bristol-Kendall and Big Rock Fire Protection District firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own, following the death of firefighter/paramedic Dawn Brown.
Brown, 44, of the 400 block of Jefferson Street, Big Rock, died as a result of an attack by one of her own dogs, the Kane County sheriff's office said Wednesday.
"They call her ‘Mother Dawn' because she was like a mother to a lot of our young firefighters," said Bristol Fire Department Chief Michael Kalyna.
Friends and colleagues say Brown was considered the go-to when you needed a friend.
Kane County officials say Brown's husband found her lifeless body inside their Big Rock home. An autopsy confirmed she was killed by the family's Mastiff, the newest dog.
"We had some really emotional firemen that were there on the scene first," said Lt. Pat Gengler. "To get to the process of talking to people and interviewing everybody including the husband took some time."
Brown was a volunteer paramedic for the Big Rock fire department along with her husband. She was also a full time firefighter and paramedic with the Bristol-Kendal Fire Department.
Friends say the Brown's considered their dogs to be their children.
"The mastiff was one that a family member had just given to them," says Lt. Pat Gengler. "The family member didn't want the dog anymore, not because the dog aggressive or vicious or anything."
Bunting surrounds both firehouses as they mourn the loss of a dear friend.
"She was one of those that, people when they call an ambulance it's probably one of the worst days of their life," Kalyna says of Brown. "She had that ability to get that person to calm down, put things in perspective and by the time she was done with them Dawn ended up being that patient's friend."
Her services are planned for Saturday morning in Big Rock, where both fire departments will be.
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