A Georgia community is mourning the tragic loss of Greene County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Chris Eddy, who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, September 4. Eddy died while responding to a tractor-trailer fire along State Route 15 near Greensboro, authorities said.
Eddy, along with fellow firefighters, was battling the blaze when a “violent explosion” occurred as the back of the truck was opened, according to Morgan County Fire Chief Garret Smith, who spoke to the Morgan County Citizen. The explosion critically injured Eddy, and he later succumbed to his injuries.
“GCFR has no words right now,” the Greene County Fire Rescue wrote in a statement on Facebook. “We are truly in disbelief. Pray for our department over the next few days and weeks ahead. RIP Chief Eddy!”
Eddy joined Greene County Fire Rescue in 2019 and was promoted to battalion chief in just two years. He was stationed at Station 11 in Greene County and also served part-time as a firefighter in nearby Morgan County. Fire Chief Smith paid tribute to his colleague, saying, “Chris was a fireman’s fireman, always ready to help, always willing to teach, and always ready to respond. Chris embodied everything a fireman is.”
The cause of the fire and the subsequent explosion that took Eddy’s life is still under investigation. His body has been taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab for an autopsy, according to the Greene County Coroner’s Office.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock, as tributes pour in for the beloved battalion chief, remembered for his dedication and selflessness in serving others.
Greensboro, where the explosion occurred, is located about 30 miles southeast of Athens, Georgia.
