Dustin Roberto
PALMDALE, Calif. - The Los Angeles County Fire Department is mourning the active-duty death of firefighter-paramedic Dustin Roberto, who passed away on Saturday.
While the fire department did not specify what caused Roberto's death, his family shared that he was diagnosed two months ago with stage 4 multi-system neuroendocrine cellular cancer, according to a GoFundMe.com page that was first created to help during his battle with the disease.
"The cancer started in his stomach and has aggressively metastasized to his liver, lungs, and neck," according to loved ones. Roberto was undergoing aggressive chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Joe Roberto, Dustin's father, thanked the fire department and others who had shown support to the family following his son's death.
"He fought this disease with courage and bravery. He loved being a firefighter and working with all his colleagues," he said. He only lived for 34 years, but he filled his life with more than most people do in a lifetime. We will miss him dearly and he will always be our hero."
Roberto leaves behind a wife, Mariah, who is pregnant with their first baby to be born in December. The couple had recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
Roberto joined the department nearly five years ago and was assigned to Station 93 in Palmdale. He first served the LA County Fire Department as an Explorer beginning in 2010.
"We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family, friends, and colleagues of FFPM Roberto," fire officials said.
This is the second active-duty death of a firefighter from Palmdale's Station 93 in two months.
In June, firefighter Andrew Pontius was killed in an explosion while battling a tractor fire in Littlerock on June 14. He was a 19-year veteran with the LA County Fire Department.