The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Fire Chief Tracy O. Sanders, 44, of the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department on January 13, 2017.
While conducting official fire department business, Chief Sanders was stopped in the department’s rescue truck on Alabama Highway 77 preparing to make a left-hand turn when she was struck from the rear by a tractor-trailer. Chief Sanders’ rescue unit was forced into oncoming traffic where she was struck again and her vehicle was forced off the roadway and into trees lining the east side of the highway. Members from the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding agencies arrived on scene and began to treat Chief Sanders. She was then transported to Anniston Regional Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries at approximately 1434hrs.
Tribute is being paid to Chief Sanders at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, three firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2017. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
