RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia fire department is mourning the loss of a veteran firefighter who drowned in a lake on the Georgia-South Carolina border.
Lt. Ralph Jenkins was pulled Saturday from Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, according to the Augusta Fire Department. Jenkins worked in Augusta and Richmond County for four decades.
“On behalf of the entire Augusta firefighting community, I am disheartened to report this crushing loss of one of our own,” said Interim Fire Chief Shaw Williams, Jr. “Lt. Jenkins came from from a firefighting family, was known in the Department as a person who could be counted on for a good laugh, and served the people of Augusta, Georgia for 40 years.”
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Channel 2′s ABC affiliate WJBF in Augusta spoke with Jenkins’ friends and colleagues.
“He leaves behind some empty boots that’s going to be tough to fill,” retired Lt. Joey Smith told WJBF. “I could tell from day one that Ralph was going to be aggressive, was going to be a good worker and going to be a trend setter.
WJFB reported that Jenkins disappeared off a boat Friday. Witnesses told Georgia Department of Natural Resources investigators they saw Jenkins go into the water and never resurface.
The drowning remains under investigation.
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