Tennessee Division of Forestry lost one of their own Saturday.
Jerry Campbell, 61, of Morristown, Tenn., was stricken by an apparent heart attack as he prepared for duty Friday night.
Campbell was at a work center in Cocke County preparing to deploy to a wildfire in Cherokee National Forest when he collapsed. He was transported to Newport Medical/Tennova Healthcare Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:45 a.m.
He is survived by a brother and sister.
"We deeply regret the loss of Division of Forestry employee Jerry Campbell, and our condolences go out to his family. By all accounts, Jerry conducted himself professionally and was committed to his duties as a wildland firefighter. I know that he will be greatly missed by his fellow employees," Assistant Commissioner and State Forester Jere Jeter said.
