Fallen Fritch fire chief laid to rest, receives salutes from first responders, community

BORGER - At only 40 years of age, Fritch volunteer Fire Chief Zeb Smith fought his last battle with fire on March 5, 2024. The well-loved firefighter was known in the community and elsewhere as a friend, community leader, father, husband, son and brother to many.

He had been fighting the largest wildfire in Texas history, with other firemen who came in to help, when a fire broke out in a home in Fritch, where he was found unresponsive.

More: 'He is known as a true firefighter': Hutchinson County mourns loss of Fire Chief Zeb Smith

At his memorial held Saturday at Grace Fellowship in Borger, firefighters from across several states and nearby, along with police and other law enforcement officers, lined the streets and crowded into the church to pay their last respects to the young hero.

The dedication to honor Smith was so strong that people began to show up at 8 a.m., according to those helping at his memorial, which was held at 11 a.m. In fact, so many people crowded into the sanctuary that many responders stood up against the wall and many had to watch the service televised in a nearby room.

Smith was born in Borger on Nov. 14, 1983, and graduated from Borger High School. He was a team roper in his younger years and loved working with cattle, though firefighting became his true passion. His career began when he worked for Chevron Phillips Fire Service in 2016. He then became a volunteer with Fritch Volunteer Fire Department and graduated to Fire Chief in 2020. Smith worked tirelessly on getting grants and donations to help his “Fire Family,” to have the finest training and best equipment.

His friend and minister of Celebration Family Church in Fritch, Pastor Dwight Kirksey, struggled while giving his tribute to Smith, whom he described as a true friend with a big heart. Vinson said that Smith was a good salesman and self-promoter, and he often had to call him on what he fondly called, “his B.S.”

“He always sat on the front row at church service," Kirksey said. “He the best person at sleeping during every sermon, and he would smile and even nod his head at the right time, occasionally.” He said that Smith worked on being a better father and son and also shared future plans for the community of Fritch.

Kirksey said that no matter what Smith was doing, if he knew the church had lost someone or the pastor was having difficulty, he would call and check on him, even when Smith was about to go to a fire. He loved to eat at Jessie’s Pizza, according to accounts.

Some stories were shared by his first pastor, B.P. Vinson, earlier with family during a private celebration of his life. When Smith had his first truck, he called his father saying his truck had broken down. When his dad arrived, he asked him if he had filled it up to which he replied, "a few days ago.” After he filled it up, it was running again. But, it happened another time or two according to his family. One story included him as a youth, riding dirt bikes with a friend when the Fritch police chief got after them. His friend got away, but Smith wasn’t so lucky. The Chief of Police said, “Do you know how Zeb got introduced to the City of Fritch? In handcuffs! He went from running from the Chief of Police to being the Fire Chief.”

There were also funny stories about Smith being “a Dodge man,” the truck he preferred from a young age. His pastor said he wanted to be a part of everything, cattle, putting in a ceiling fan, moving a couch. “He was always there.”

Smith loved spending time with his sons, Zane and Braylan, and would travel two hours to watch a 30-minute soccer game for them and also working with livestock. Vinson said that one of Smith's greatest gifts was to “love big.” He said, “People don’t aways remember what you said or did, but they will always remember how they made you feel.”

He then read part of a “Fireman’s Prayer.” The ceremony concluded with presenting the flag used at his ceremony, to a member of the family, along with his Fireman’s hat. And a last “radio call” for his service resulted in many tears during the ceremony.

Afterwards, lines of fire engines from all over the Texas Panhandle and including New Mexico and other Texas cities, which lined the street in front of Grace Fellowship, formed a procession to the Westlawn Memorial Park cemetery for interment.

Smith was preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl Randall Smith, Lou Ella Stafford Smith, and Kay Litterell; his uncles, Jimmie Smith and Cecil Gilchrest; and his aunt, Debra Smith.

Survivors include his sons, Zane and Braylan; Braylan’s siblings, Ally Brown, Kaylin Kent and husband Levi, CJ Brown; parents, Joe and Lisa Smith of Fritch, Bridget Avery; grandparents, Winnie Litterell, GC and Linda Alburty, all of Borger; brothers, Matt Smith and wife Megan of Stinnett, Cody Smith and wife Angel of Fritch; sisters, Jennifer Anderson and husband Jared of Fritch, Jessika Sanders and husband Johnny of Fritch; nieces and nephews, Maecee Anderson, Jacob Anderson, Kyler Anderson, Cooper Sanders, Elise Sanders, Cade Sanders, Button Smith, Jeran Nolen, Lula Nolen, Kaysen Smith all who loved their Uncle Bubba fiercely; aunts and uncles, Carla Gilchrest of Tuttle, Oklahoma, Debbie Smith of Dumas, Cara Petty of Borger, Leslie Ford and husband Steve of Borger, James and Gina Murray of Sanford; numerous cousins; a host of extended family; and his firefighting family.

The more than 60 agencies represented at Saturday's memorial service included, from various Texas communities: Fritch, Borger, Dumas, Fort Worth, Red Oak, Brownwood, DeSoto, Grand Prairie, Hewitt, Stinnett, Allen, Greenville, Dalhart, Farwell, Gray County, Skellytown, Amarillo, Stratford, Ralls, Panhandle, Waco, Taylor, Odessa, Liberty Hill, Floydada, Randall County, Potter County, White Deer, Kermit, Claredon, Midland, Haltom City, Double Oak, Lefors, Hoover, Lubbock, Crutch Ranch Volunteer Fire Department (near Borger), Crockett County, Canyon, Duncanville, Lancaster, Borden County, Silverton, Jim Ned, Wheeler, Abernathy, Hartley, Galveston, Kemp, Washburn, Spearman, New Brunfels, the Texas State Highway Patrol, Texas A&M Forest Service, Hutchinson County Sheriff's Office, Carson County Sheriff's Office, Moore County Sheriff's Office and Pantex, as well as the Southern Plains Fire Group, US Park Rangers, Department of Emergency Management, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: First responders, community salute fallen Fritch fire chief