Texas Firefighter Dies in Grass Fire LODD
A Tri-Lakes Volunteer Fire Department firefighter in Texas has died in the line of duty while fighting a grass fire. This marks the department's second line-of-duty death in the past five years, highlighting the persistent dangers of wildland and brush fire response.
The fallen firefighter from the Tri-Lakes Volunteer Fire Department was identified as 67-year-old Jeff Derrick. He had been with the department for just over a year. The incident occurred on Friday, February 27, 2026, while battling a grass fire in Titus County. Derrick was reportedly overcome by smoke after he became disoriented while attempting to return to his vehicle. The grass fire was located at 1485 FM 21, and crews were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. No other firefighters were injured in the blaze. This marks the second line-of-duty death for the Tri-Lakes VFD in under five years. In November 2021, firefighter Ross Estabrooks, 47, collapsed and died from a cardiac event while fighting a structure fire. That incident, along with the death of another Titus County volunteer firefighter from a neighboring department weeks earlier, highlighted the inherent risks faced by first responders. The death comes as Texas experiences a heightened risk of wildfires. Above-normal grass growth in 2025, combined with a forecasted La Niña pattern bringing warmer and drier conditions, has increased the potential for significant wildfire activity in early 2026. From October 2025 to mid-January 2026, the Texas A&M Forest Service has seen its wildfire response trend 136% above normal. During that period, agency personnel responded to 434 wildfires that consumed 11,425 acres across the state. As of late February, burn bans were in effect in 172 Texas counties.
