David Pack, 63, Mysteriously Drowned in Pond During Brush Fire
Posted: Tuesday, November 2, 1999 - 4 PM
DAVE J. IANNONE
Firehouse.Com News
David Pack, a 24-year veteran with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's
Forestry Division, died Friday night of an apparant drowning during a small
wildfire, officials said.
Pack, 63, a career employee with the state who held the position of Forestry Aide I,
was found in a pond as fire operations wrapped up at the scene of the fire
in Smith County, according to Jere Jeter, Assistant State Forester.
"It wasn't a major fire," he said. "He was not directly on the fire line but
rather moving from one side to another."
Firefighters had brought the fire under control when several saw headlights in
a field after dark Friday, October 29th. Pack's truck was running with its
lights on along the bank of a pond, Jeter said. After a search that lasted
about an hour, they found Pack's body in the pond.
An preliminary autopsy reported that the cause of was drowning, although
further test results were pending and expected to be released in a few weeks.
Jeter said the death has not yet been ruled "line of duty" or otherwise since the
circumstances remain unclear and Pack was not directly on the fire line at the
time of the incident.
Funeral services were held on Monday.
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