*This post has been updated with the new funeral arrangements*

It is with much sadness that we announce the line of duty passing of Captain Erik Steciak. Erik, 29, joined the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department in November 2005 after three years at the Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department. After earning his paramedic license, he worked as a paramedic at the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company and the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company. Erik was at work at Bel Air on Tuesday and responded to a motor vehicle accident for a vehicle that slid off the road in the 300 block of Patterson Mill Road in Bel Air. Conditions were hazardous as it had been snowing all morning, and a Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company utility vehicle hit Erik. He was taken in grave condition to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
A long time line officer at WFVFD, Erik was recently promoted to the rank of Captain and tasked with coordinating department training. He also served as a mentor for many new members, whether they were in Firefighter 1 class or EMT class. Each year since joining, Erik was consistently one of our top Fire and EMS responders, usually receiving several awards at each company banquet. In 2007, Erik spent a year with the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team, which is called out nationally to floods, NASA search and rescue, ice storms, terrorist attacks, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as assisting the US Forest Service and National Park Service with natural resource projects. Needless to say, this is an unimaginable loss for everyone who knew and loved Erik. We ask that you keep Erik and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Funeral arrangements:
Viewings:
Friday January 16, 2015
West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday January 17, 2015
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Funeral:
Sunday January 18, 2015
Marriotts Ridge High School
12100 Woodford Drive
Marriottsville, MD 21104
1:00 PM
Wake at the Turf Valley Resort located at 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City from 3PM-7PM following services.