A volunteer fire chief in the small Texas town of Fritch died Tuesday while fighting growing wildfires in the Panhandle.
According to reports from the neighboring town of Borger, Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith was the first to arrive to fight a structure fire when he faced “unforeseen challenges.” Smith was transported to the hospital in Borger, where he later died. It was not specified whether the medical emergency was related to an isolated structure fire or the wildfires that have become the largest in state history.
The Fritch Volunteer Fire Department posted to its Facebook page, saying, “Just know that right now, we are not OK. We love our Chief, our Brother, our Friend. Please be patient with us.”
Smith was among firefighters in Hutchinson County battling the Windy Deuce wildfire, which had burned 144,000 acres by Tuesday. News sources indicate that smaller fires had broken out near Fritch as dry and windy conditions persisted, while the Windy Deuce had been 55 percent contained.
The Texas Department of Agriculture released a statement honoring the fire chief and other frontline heroes battling fires across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of one of our courageous frontline heroes in the Texas Panhandle. Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith made the ultimate sacrifice while battling to contain the devastation plaguing our community,” wrote TDA Commissioner Sid Miller today.
Numerous wildfires across the region have destroyed hundreds of miles of fencing, numerous structures, and resulted in the loss of over 6,000 cattle. Currently, there are four active wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. The largest fire, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, is 37 percent contained.
“Our first responders have shown remarkable bravery in their efforts to protect lives. Thanks to their unwavering courage, they have managed to prevent even greater loss of life during this unprecedented disaster,” wrote Miller. “Today, as we mourn the loss of Chief Smith, let us honor his bravery and the selflessness of all our emergency personnel who continue to risk their lives to keep us safe.”
For those seeking assistance or wishing to provide support, TDA resources and information on how to help can be found here. Producers who find themselves in an emergency need of hay to feed livestock can visit TDA’s Hay Hotline here. TDA’s AgriStress Helpline is available at 1-833-897-2474.
There are numerous other opportunities to support victims of the fire. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is maintaining a list of relief resources.
»Related: Donations for ranchers sought as Texas fires burn over 1.1M acres