Portland Fire Department Releases Funeral Information for Captain Michael Kucsma

Portland, Maine – The Portland Fire Department is releasing finalized funeral arrangements for Captain Michael Kucsma.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Friday June 20th between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM at Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home located at 199 Woodfords St in Portland.

An Ecumenical funeral service with honors will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception located at 196 Cumberland Ave in Portland, beginning at 10:00 AM on Saturday June 21st 2014.  A uniform presence has been requested by the family.

A large turnout is expected. Mike Kucsma was well liked and respected firefighter in Portland and Gorham Maine as well as known in many circles across Maine and the New England Region.  The Portland Fire Department, with the help of generous

Portland Fire Captain Michael Kucsma’s death ruled “natural” and attributed to a heart attack.

Portland, Maine – The State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta has released preliminary findings as a result of the autopsy performed today on Portland Fire Department Captain Michael Kucsma.  The Medical Examiner has determined that Kucsma, 43, died as a result of a heart attack while scuba diving Monday afternoon.

When notified of the findings by the Medical Examiner Portland Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria stated “This report is bittersweet, allowing his family and co-workers additional peace of mind, yet, there is still the task of saying goodbye to a son, a husband, a brother and a friend.”

As a result of the preliminary findings both Portland and Gorham Fire Department along with union officials are making the preliminary required reports regarding public safety officer’s death in the line of duty. The public safety officer’s line of duty death benefit provides certain benefits to survivors if the firefighter or other public safety official death meets certain specific criteria.

Kucsma had responded to an emergency call in Gorham earlier in the day.  Kucsma was a deputy chief in the Gorham fire Department and regularly responded to emergency calls for that Department as well as Portland, where he was the Captain assigned to Engine 6.

“While this will never bring Mike back, if approved, this will provide some security to his family” continued LaMoria

Funeral arrangements will be released later this evening by the Portland Fire Department.

Portland Fire Department Captain Michael Kucsma Dies While Scuba Diving near Back Cove

PORTLAND, Maine – Captain Michael Kucsma, a decorated 21-year veteran firefighter, died off-duty while on a recreational scuba dive. Kucsma, an avid and experienced diver, was reported missing by a diving partner around 3:40 PM.

Members of the Portland Fire Department responded to the scene and worked to locate, extricate, and resuscitate Kucsma. He was pronounced dead at the scene and then taken to a local funeral home.    

Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria spoke of the tragedy saying, “Rescues of this nature are never easy, but when it’s a co-worker it is that much harder on everyone involved.” Counselors and peer support personnel have been called in to provide support to the family, the responding crews as well as Kucsma's co-workers who are off duty today. “When you spend this amount of time with someone and place the kind of trust in each other as we do, we become a big family. It’s just a devastating loss for everyone. We will provide whatever support is needed for his family at home and his co-workers here in Portland,” continued LaMoria.

Kucsma joined the department in 1993 as a firefighter and was most recently promoted to the rank of captain in 2006.  He was assigned to Engine 6 at Bramhall Station on Congress Street in Portland.

Funeral arrangements have not been determined at this time and will be released as they become available.