Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie residents came together to celebrate the life of Austin Hodge, a 34‑year‑old firefighter‑paramedic with St. Lucie County Fire District. The community held a visitation at River of Life Fellowship Church in Fort Pierce, followed by a memorial service at Christ Fellowship Church in Port St. Lucie.
Service highlights
The service featured songs, prayers and tributes from fellow firefighters and local leaders. U.S. Rep. Brian Mast spoke, honoring the Hodge family’s dedication to public service and thanking them on behalf of a grateful nation.
Final procession
After the ceremony, a procession traveled from Southwest Village Park to Hillcrest Memorial Gardens on U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce, where Hodge was laid to rest. The fire department livestreamed the service on YouTube, allowing those unable to attend to pay their respects.
Career and tragic loss
Austin Hodge joined the St. Lucie County Fire District on July 17, 2017 and was assigned to Station 9 in Fort Pierce. On October 24, he was found unresponsive in his bunk during a shift change. Despite immediate life‑saving efforts, he later died at the hospital.
His brother, Jarius Hodge, also passed away in July 2025 after a sudden illness at work, adding to the family’s recent sorrow.
Community response
Firefighters from multiple agencies escorted Hodge’s body from the medical examiner’s office to a local funeral home, and the outpouring of respect underscored the deep bond between the fire department and the community it serves.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
