Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the flags in the Panhandle city of Fritch lowered to half-staff to honor a fallen fire chief.
Chief Zeb Smith was the first to respond to a house fire in Fritch earlier this week. It was not directly related to the wildfires burning in that area.Officials said Smith collapsed inside the home, suffering from a reported heart attack. He later died at the hospital.Smith was just 40 years old but had been on the wildfire lines for nine straight days prior to his death."Obviously, we all need rest.
He took his breaks to rest and everything, but when he was on, he was out," said fellow volunteer firefighter Glen Wallis. "He went doing what he had a passion for.""He was willing to put his own life on the line to save the property of others and that is what Texas heroism is all about," the governor said.Abbott called on other Texas communities to also lower their flags in Smith’s honor.His funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LIVE NOW: Gov. Abbott in Texas Panhandle with the latest on state's historic wildfireA dusting of snow covered a desolate landscape of scorched prairie, dead cattle and burned-out homes in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, giving firefighters…
Read more »
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doesn't want to be Trump's running mate, expert saysDuring Thursday's Hannity segment at Eagle Pass's Shelby Park, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump said that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is 'absolutely' on his short list of potential running mates. In Trump's babbling response, he said that Abbott has 'done a great job' and is 'somebody that I would very much consider' for the position.
Read more »
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott embraces role as top Biden antagonist on borderGabe Gutierrez is a senior White House correspondent for NBC News.
Read more »
H-E-B's chairman throws $1 million behind candidates Gov. Greg Abbott wants to unseatThe chairman of San Antonio-based grocery giant H-E-B has funneled more than $1 million into the campaigns of anti-school voucher Republicans that Gov. Greg Abbott is working to unseat, Hearst Texas government reporter Jasper Scherer found in a new analysis. Between Jan. 26 and Feb. 24, the Charles Butt Public Education PAC flowed a total of $1.
Read more »
Worries arise that Gov. Greg Abbott's 'invasion' rhetoric will spill over into violenceFor all its anti-government rancor and flurry of far-right conspiracy theories, last weekend's 'Take Our Border Back' rally in Eagle Pass remained largely peaceful.
Read more »
Greg Abbott’s Anti-Migrant Standoff at the BorderRachel Monroe on the “Take Our Border Back” rally and its movement toward Eagle Pass, Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott has brought a conflict over state power and the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more »