WESTLAND — Westland Firefighter and Dearborn resident Brian Woehike died while on duty last Wednesday, after his department responded to a fire at the Electric Stick building, located on Wayne Road, south of Warren.

According to reports, five firefighters went into the building as it was engulfed in flames. The building collapsed and the fire was put out shortly afterwards. However, only four firefighters emerged from the building. Search and rescue crew members spent hours attempting to locate Woehike, before his body was discovered later on in the afternoon.

Woehlke is the first Westland fire fighter to die in the line of duty in the department’s 47 year history. Westland Mayor William R. Wild issued a statement, stating “this tragedy is a reminder to us all of the sacrifice that firefighters make, along with their family and friends every single day.”

Woehike was married and a father of one. According to reports, he had only recently started working at the Wayne-Westland Fire Department about ten months ago.