The acting fire chief of the Ward (AL) Volunteer Fire Department died after sustaining burns during a response to a grass fire, according to a notice from the U.S. Fire Administration.
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, Acting Chief Fredy C. Reeves, 85, was attempting to put out a grass fire when his pants caught fire and he was injured. When other firefighters arrived on the scene, they helped in fighting the fire.
Acting Chief Reeves then drove approximately five miles and brought back a fire apparatus to continue fire suppression operations. When an ambulance arrived, Acting Chief Reeves was transported to a local hospital and then to the burn center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.
His condition improved and he responded to treatment, however Acting Chief Reeves subsequently became increasingly ill after responding to treatment and passed away from his injuries on Friday, March 25, 2022.