Georgia Firefighter Dies, Stricken During SCBA Training

By Bill Carey
23 March 2023

BARTOW County, Ga. – A Georgia firefighter has died after experiencing a medical emergency during training last week.

Bartow County Fire and Emergency Services posted on Facebook about the death of Firefighter Michael Smith. The post stated that Smith passed away from complications suffered during a training exercise last Thursday.

The Calhoun Times reported that Smith became unresponsive while inside an SCBA training maze during an exercise at the Bartow-Cartersville Fire Joint Training Center.

Instructors quickly recognized Smith was in distress and removed him from the maze. The training center had an ALS ambulance on standby for training and transported Smith to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center.

Smith was placed on life support until his death on Tuesday. He had been a member of the department for two years. He is survived by a son.

Photograph courtesy of Bartow County Fire and Emergency Services.