SC fire chief dies after responding to house fire

LANCASTER, S.C. — A South Carolina fire chief died Tuesday morning after responding to a house fire.

Lancaster County Volunteer Fire Chief Dennis J. Cauthen, 54, collapsed at his fire station and later died, according to WISTV.

Chief Cauthen, who headed the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department, had spent more than 31 years in the fire service in Lancaster County.

Firefighters had just returned from an old mill house in the early morning when he collapsed, having spent nearly three hours on scene.

Fellow responders began medical assistance when he collapsed and transported him to a local hospital.

Chief Cauthen is survived by his parents, wife, three children and four grandchildren.