Sandy MaloneEastland, TX – An Eastland County sheriff’s deputy was killed on Thursday night as she tried to save community members from the devastating fires that swept the county.
“It is with very heavy hearts that today we learned of the death of one our Eastland County Deputies who put it all on the line last night trying to save people from the horrible fires,” the Cisco Police Department wrote in a post to its official Facebook page on March 18.
“Our sister Barbara Fenley will be deeply missed,” the post continued. “She was a special servant and an attribute to our profession. We will kneel in prayer for her family, friends and colleagues as they mourn. RIP dear friend, you will be missed.”
KTAB reported it was unclear where Eastland County Sheriff’s Deputy Barbara Fenley was killed.
Deputy Fenley is, so far. the only confirmed death resulting from the Eastern County Complex Fires.
Yesterday, Texas A&M Forest Service responded to 10 wildfires that burned 52,708 acres across the state. Strong winds, critically dry grasses contributed to extreme fire behavior and rapid spread.
🎥 Extreme fire behavior observed on the Eastland Complex in Eastland County, 3/17 pic.twitter.com/9ZBJu1ObPs
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
Alert: Multiple fires in Eastland County have been combined into the #EastlandComplex. This includes the #WallingFire. Fires are burning actively in heavy brush and are an estimated 13,000 acres. The Southern Area Grey Incident Management Team Type 3 has been ordered. pic.twitter.com/Ok7RIE16JQ
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 17, 2022
The fires have burned 45,000 acres so far and remained only two percent contained on Friday afternoon, KTAB reported.
The communities of Carbon and Gorman were almost completely destroyed by the blaze.
Carbon, TX got hit really hard last night from the Eastland County Complex Fire. Thinking of everyone impacted by these fires. #txwx pic.twitter.com/Anw9Z8rvuy
— Austin Burkes (@AustinBurkeswx) March 18, 2022
BREAKING: an Eastland County sheriff’s deputy died after evacuating people from the #texaswildfires, per local officials in Cisco, Texas. Police name the deputy as Barbara Fenley. pic.twitter.com/LT5B97MkDa
— Monica Madden (@themonicamadden) March 18, 2022
Deputy Fenley’s son has also posted about his mother’s death on Facebook.
“I wanna thank everyone for the thoughts and Prayers, and I wanna thank everyone for helping us find mom,” Jon Fenley wrote. “Unfortunately with the saddest news my mom has passed away, I just ask that you give us privacy in this moment while we collect our thoughts, I love everyone and I know she loved everyone and she loved the community of Gorman and Eastland County.”
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin