By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Seelyville Fire Chief Harold Osborn, 51, died Monday night, June 9, 2026, from cardiac arrest — hours after responding with fellow firefighters to assist EMS with a patient lift.
- Osborn’s wife discovered him in cardiac arrest at home following the call, initiated CPR immediately, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
- Osborn had served with the Seelyville Fire Department for 30 years and also held a position as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department since 2019.
- Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell publicly mourned Osborn’s passing, honoring his dual service as both a firefighter and reserve law enforcement officer.
- No further details regarding a formal line-of-duty death determination or memorial arrangements had been publicly announced as of the time of publication.
SEELYVILLE, Ind. — Seelyville Fire Chief Harold Osborn, 51, died Monday night following a cardiac arrest that occurred at his home hours after he and fellow Seelyville firefighters responded to assist an EMS crew with a patient lift call, according to the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department and the first responder support organization Supporting Heroes.
Osborn participated in the EMS assist response Monday evening and returned home afterward. His wife later discovered him in cardiac arrest and immediately began CPR. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A formal line-of-duty death determination had not been publicly announced as of the time of publication.
Osborn had served with the Seelyville Fire Department for 30 years. In addition to his role as fire chief, he had served as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department since 2019, making him a dual-role public safety figure in the community.
Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page mourning Osborn’s death. “Harold Osborn proudly served as a reserve deputy sheriff for our agency since 2019, selflessly dedicating his time to safeguarding and protecting our community,” Fell wrote. “Those who had the privilege of knowing Harold recognized his tireless work ethic and character that defined him. Throughout his career, Harold also devoted many years to serving our community as a firefighter as well. His loss impacts the hearts of family, friends, and our colleagues. We will deeply feel the absence of Harold moving forward, but are so very thankful for our time serving with him.”