Asheville – In a tragic turn of events, three firefighters from the Carolinas lost their lives while bravely working to aid victims of Tropical Storm Helene, which wreaked havoc across the region. The storm, which caused devastating mudslides and structural damages, claimed the lives of Tony Garrison from North Carolina, and Landon Cale Bodie and Chief Chad Satcher from South Carolina.
Tony Garrison served as the Battalion Chief of the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department and a firefighter with the Garren Creek Fire Department. The Garren Creek area, located near Black Mountain, was among the hardest hit by the storm, experiencing multiple mudslides. Misty Reeves of Trussville, AL, answered a plee from Fairview FPD for anyone with a side-by-side to help wth search and rescue. She assisted Garrison’s family, saying, “Tony was in the midst of rescuing a neighbor when a second landslide struck. Tony, his son, and his nephew got pinned down by the mudslide. The son was the only survivior.” Reeves described the scene, saying, “There were eleven houses in this valley, all of them washed away. Their family lost eleven members.” She went back with the surviving family members the next day to help them salvage what they could. “It’s so hearbreaking. I just cannot imagine everything they have been through. Everyone in that valley was related.”
Working alongside Reeves and others were trained off duty military members who came over from Fort Bragg. They were told they weren’t needed ater FEMA came in. Reeves explained, “The government has their own stratagy, and they don’t want anyone else unless they are paid contractors. It just doesn’t make sense, these men have 15+ years of experience and training for search and rescue.”
In Saluda County, South Carolina, Landon Cale Bodie and Chief Chad Satcher had traveled to assist with the emergency response efforts. Bodie, just 18 years old, was a probationary firefighter full of promise. Chief Chad Satcher, a dedicated firefighter with 35 years of service, had recently become Chief of the Department in January 2023. Their lives were tragically cut short on September 27, 2024, at 6:52 am when a tree fell on their fire truck while they were responding to a structure fire.
The loss of these brave individuals has sent ripples of sorrow through their communities and the firefighting fraternity. Their dedication to helping others and their ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. Their legacy of bravery serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by emergency responders every day.