Clay Center's fire chief died of an apparent heart attack on Feb. 21, after responding to a fire the previous day, according to the USFA.
Fire Chief Jonathan Siemers was at home when he was stricken, according to the report. He had previously responded to an apartment fire and complained of shoulder pain that morning before collapsing.
The Clay Center Dispatch reported that the Kansas State Firefighter Association ruled that Siemers died in the line of duty after learning that he was on the call 24 hours before his death.
Mayor Sharon Brown has appointed assistant fire chief Dallas Cunningham to serve as interim fire chief.
Siemers became a firefighter with the city in 1997, but had worked in the street department since 1987. He became fire chief in 2003, according to the newspaper.
Brown said since he knew the building codes as part of his duties as the fire marshal, so "it just made sense to do that" when the previous chief retired.
Seimers was played a big role in obtaining federal grants that were used to purchase generators and update sirens for the department.
