By FireRescue1 Staff
SAN FRANCISCO — A battalion chief died Sunday after responding to an early morning fire call.
Battalion Chief Terry Smerdel was found unresponsive in his office by colleagues and pronounced dead at the scene, according to a press release from the San Francisco Fire Department. He was a 26-year veteran and 9/11 responder.
“Battalion Chief Smerdel has been a valued member of our department since October 15, 1991,” San Francisco Fire Department Chief Joanne Hayes-White said. “He was a devoted family man, great husband, father, grandfather and brother. He will be greatly missed by his fire department family.”
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee also released a statement about Chief Smerdel’s passing.
“A dedicated veteran of the department, Terry put the safety of our city and our residents above his own day in and day out,” Lee said. “Not only was Terry a committed professional, he was a family man and beloved by all those who knew him.”
The cause of Smerdel’s death is currently unknown. We will update you when more information becomes available.