A Tennessee fire chief died from a medical emergency while at the scene of a large residential house fire Monday night.
Fayette County Chief Jason Byrd suffered an apparent heart attack while he was working at the fire scene in Eads, according to the department. Within 15 seconds of the attack, life-support measures were administered to Byrd, who was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Byrd, 42, had been with the Hickory Withe Fire Department since 1997, and he transitioned into Fayette County in 2005. He served as the chief of District 14 in Fayette County for 12 years.
"Jason was a chief that had the respect of ALL his men and women, and a dedicated servant to his community of Hickory Withe, as well as to all of Fayette County. He will be greatly missed," Fayette County Fire Chief Rich Hartfield said in a statement.
Byrd is survived by his wife, Jamie, and two children, Shelby and Jackson.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Peebles Funeral Home West, 10670 US-64, Somerville, TN. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m., at Hickory Withe Baptist Church, 17675 TN-196, Eads, TN. Burial will follow the service at the funeral home.
For more information, contact Hartfield at (901) 466-7130 or [email protected].
