MONTREAT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A firefighter with the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department died Saturday during a training exercise involving an all-terrain vehicle near Montreat, according to Buncombe County officials.
The county confirmed the line-of-duty death in a statement, expressing “deep sorrow and heavy hearts.” The firefighter died from injuries sustained in the accident despite the immediate aid provided by fellow firefighters and emergency responders.
Two other Riceville firefighters were also injured in the incident and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The accident occurred during a training operation in a wooded area near Appalachian Way.
Officials have urged the public and media to avoid the scene and to refrain from spreading unverified information online.
The Black Mountain Fire Department issued a statement offering support and condolences, calling the incident “devastatingly heartbreaking.”
“We are devastatingly heartbroken by the recent event affecting our brothers and sisters at the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department. In times like these, words fall short, but know our thoughts, prayers, and unwavering love are with each and every firefighter, their families, and the entire department,” the department said in a social media post.