The Oakridge, Oregon fire department is mourning the loss of its chief this week. Mark Sundin was killed last week while kayaking on the Willamette river with his 10-year old son. According to the Oregonian, it's likely that Sundin was caught in what kayaker's refer to as the "Washing Machine Effect," where a boater gets sucked into an area of the river where the current is strong and the paddler keeps getting flipped over. It is a challenge to get get up and stay up, even for an experienced kayaker. Whether it was from this or a heart attack from exertion is unknown. Autopsy results are expected soon.

Sundin is survived by his wife and three sons.