United States Fire Administration
14 March 2024
The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Chief Zeb Smith, 40, of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Department on 5 March 2024.
On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Chief Zeb Smith was the first to arrive at the scene of a residential fire. He entered the home to check on any occupants but did not exit. Fellow firefighters found him unresponsive and immediately began medical treatment. He was then transported to the Golden Plains Community Hospital where he later died. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Age: 40
Rank: Chief
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: March 5, 2024
Date of death: March 5, 2024
Cause of fatal injury: Unknown
Nature of fatal injury: Unknown
Activity type: Search and Rescue
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Residential
The number of on-duty deaths for 2024 currently is 14.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2024.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Photograph courtesy of Fritch Volunteer Fire Department.
Data Not Drama 