Vacaville Fire Department employee dies – The Vacaville Reporter

A photo of Bryden Nadasdy, a Vacaville Fire Department employee who died in an off-duty accident.

Vacaville Fire Department employee Bryden Nadasdy died in an off-duty accident Friday evening, making him the second Vacaville first responder to die in two days.

The accident occurred on Vaca Valley Parkway west of Browns Valley Road, according to a statement from the Vacaville Fire Department early Saturday afternoon. Nasady leaves behind his mother and brother.

“Bryden Nadasdy was a dedicated member of our community and had been with the fire department as a Code Enforcement Technician since March 21, 2022,” the press release said. “He served with the utmost dedication and commitment, and his loss is deeply regretted by the fire department, the city and the community.”

Tragedy followed another: Vacaville Police Officer Matt Bowen died Thursday morning after being struck by a driver who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

The California Highway Patrol is handling the incident and the investigation is ongoing. A CHP spokesperson could not be reached for comment before publication of this story.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Bryden’s family and join them in honoring his memory and service to the community,” the press release said. “The City of Vacaville is offering support and counseling services to all employees affected by this loss.”

Bryden’s father, Vince Nadasdy, was a former Vacaville police officer who died in 2022. He joined the police department in 2002 after serving as a Toronto police officer.

“Vince’s love for our community was evident in his commitment to service and responsibility,” said a social media post from the Vacaville Police Department from that time. “He made people’s lives better with every interaction.”

The elder Nadasdy rose to the rank of sergeant, was named Officer of the Year in 2011, and received many other awards during his time with the department. He served as a detective and was also on the SWAT team for 14 years.

The Yolo Solano 100 Club announced Saturday that it presented a check for $20,000 to Bowen’s family on Friday, fulfilling its mission to provide financial support to the families of police officers killed in the line of duty.

“We will continue to work with the family during this difficult time and beyond,” the organization said in a Facebook post.

City Council member Roy Stockton posted a message of condolences on Facebook Saturday evening to Nadasdy’s family and all first responders in the community.

“I continue to be grateful to live in such a kind and uplifting community,” Stockton wrote. “There is no doubt that the tragedies we face are not easy to overcome, but I continue to be proud and grateful for the wonderful people who surround us all.”

Earlier this week, Vacaville City Council members Mike Silva and Greg Ritchie participated in training exercises with the Vacaville Fire Department and afterward complimented and thanked the fire department for their hard work and dedication.

“To be the best, you have to be interested in what you do and you have to know how to use the tools and equipment to get the job done,” Silva wrote. “These men and women who have dedicated their careers to our city have an innate passion and dedication to serving our community. That’s something you can’t train. But you can learn to know what needs to be done to help us live to another day.”

Ritchie said the pair visited a training facility to learn more about the process, participate in drills and put out a live fire.

“To see first-hand the impact of open fire on a building and the exceptional training and coordination of our firefighters was simply extraordinary,” he wrote. “A big thank you to all the firefighters for their service and for making our community safer!”