The state of Texas is currently facing one of the worst wildfires in its history. This disaster has left untold devastation in its wake and has claimed the lives of great heroes like Zeb Smith, Fritch’s fire chief.
On Tuesday afternoon, Smith was battling the fire in a residential area, he was in the midst of searching for possible victims in a building when he unfortunately lost his life. Rescuers found him hours later and, despite their best efforts, were unable to save him. The cause of his death has not yet been released.
Hutchinson County officials expressed their sorrow for the loss of Chief Smith and described him as a dedicated public servant. They also mentioned that he had been working tirelessly for nearly ten days to fight fires in the Panhandle region.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the largest fire so far is recorded in Smokehouse Creek in Hutchinson County. More than 435,000 acres of land have been consumed by the fires and five are still burning in the Panhandle. Authorities continue to work tirelessly to bring the situation under control and minimize the impact of this tragedy on the community.