Fire chief suffers cardiac arrest, dies 24 hours after responding to emergency [Video]

LEXINGTON, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – The Henderson County Fire Department in Tennessee is mourning the loss of Fire Chief Joseph Lynn Murphy.

He was 62.

The department said Murphy died Dec. 20, days after suffering a cardiac arrest event. That happened Tuesday evening within 24 hours of Murphy responding to an emergency call, according to Henderson County Fire Department Administrative District Chief Chadd Gilliam.

The community he served and those he worked with affectionately called him “Murphy.” He spent decades of his life serving Henderson County.

According to his obituary, Murphy started his career in emergency services with the Henderson County Fire Department Station 3 as a teenager before he climbed the ranks to become the district chief.

In 1977, he was selected to become the fire chief for Henderson County where he served until his death. He also served as president of the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association.

One of his proudest achievements was …