Firefighter found dead in his bunk – tragedy called ‘completely unexpected’

A 46-year-old Washington state firefighter was found dead in his bunk on Thursday morning just hours after returning from a call.

“It is with deep sadness that Clallam County Fire District 3 must inform the local community and the fire service community of the death of one of our officers in the line of duty this morning, Captain Charles “Chad” Keith,” Fire Chief Ben Andrews wrote. Facebook post on page 3 of the Clallam County Fire Department.

“Captain Keith was found dead in his bunk by members of his crew when they tried to wake him up around 7 a.m. this morning,” the report said.

According to Peninsula Daily News, Kate visited the two fire sites early Thursday morning.

Kate responded to a fire alarm that went off in a commercial building around 2:25 a.m. and returned to the station.

Around 4:00 am, he contacted the fellow captain and duty supervisor that he had visited the site of the previous house fire to inform them that all was well at the scene.

Officials from the State Department of Labor and Industry will investigate Kate’s death.

Clallam County Professional Firefighters IAFF, Local Authority 2933, memorialized Kate on the union’s Facebook page.

“His passing was completely unexpected and stunned his family, friends, siblings from IAFF 2933 and his entire family from Clallam County Fire District 3,” the statement said.

#ClallamCounty: Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Firefighter Chad Keith of the Clallam County 3 Fire Department who sadly passed away this morning.

Thank you for being friends with our agency and for your commitment to public safety, it will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/HrYgRoZxIm

— Soldier Katherine Weatherwax (@wspd8pio) January 12, 2023

“Chad began his career as a firefighter in 1997 and has been constantly working to advance our department, our community and his career,” the union wrote.

“Chad has worked as a paramedic for over 20 years where he had the opportunity to influence countless members of the community when they called 9-1-1. Chad was promoted to captain in 2020.

The union said a memorial service would be scheduled in the coming days.

Kate graduated from Sekim High School and was the school’s wrestling coach.

Kate is survived by his wife, two-year-old son and two adult children.

Firefighters escorted the body of the late Clallam County Fire District 3 Captain Charles “Chad” Keith early Friday to Thurston County, where an autopsy is being performed. The procession should return today at around 2:15 pm through the city. pic.twitter.com/ZJtV8zv6HD

— Sequim Gazette (@SequimGazette) January 13, 2023

A Facebook post notes that on Friday, firefighters escorted Kate to nearby Thurston County for an autopsy.

This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.

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