AUGUST 6, 2007
NONDAY FIREFIGHTERS LAID TO REST
On August 3, 2007, two Noonday Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) firefighters lost their lives
during firefighting operations at a house fire. At 1:36 AM the Smith County 911 dispatcher
received a report of a house fire near the town of Bullard. The Flint-Gresham VFD was
dispatched and responded to the house fire, reporting flames visible when they arrived. The
Noonday VFD responded to the house fire in accordance with their mutual aid agreement with
Smith County Fire Department.
The Flint-Gresham VFD was in the process of an interior attack of the house fire when Noonday
VFD arrived to the scene. Forty-two-year-old Kevin Williams, a five year veteran of the
Noonday department, and 19-year-old Austin Cheek, who had served less than a year with the
department relieved the Flint-Gresham VFD interior attack team and continued the interior
attack operations.
During the next 15 to 25 minutes of firefighting operations, which included several attempts to
adequately ventilate the structure, Captain Williams and Firefighter Cheek were overcome by
the fire conditions. Rapid Intervention Crews located and rescued the two firefighters, who were
then transported to the East Texas Medical Center where emergency room staff continued
efforts to resuscitate them.
Firefighter Cheek was pronounced dead at 03:17 AM. Captain Williams was pronounced dead
at 03:34 AM. The cause of death for both firefighters was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
More than 90 firefighters, representing 14 departments from the Smith County area, contributed
to activities associated with this incident.
AUGUST 6, 2011
NEEDHAM FIRE DEDICATES FIRE STATION
AUGUST 6, 2013
CLEVELAND ISD BUSSES VANDALIZED
AUGUST 6, 2014
POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FINDS MARIJUANA FIELD
AUGUST 6, 2015
CUT AND SHOOT MANN ROAD MOBILE HOME FIRE
AUGUST 6, 2015
FM 1485 HOMICIDE
