An Eastland County sheriff's deputy died Thursday night while trying to save others from one of the many wildfires sweeping through the central and western parts of Texas, the sheriff's office said Friday.
Low humidity and gusty winds added fuel to what is known as the Eastland Complex of wildfires centered in Eastland County, about 100 miles west of Fort Worth. The fires have so far burned dozens of structures and forced evacuations of homes in small communities.
Eastland County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Barbara Fenley was among the multiple law enforcement agencies helping with traffic control and evacuations in Carbon, the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"While evacuating people and going door-to-door, Fenley was last heard that she was going to check on an elderly individual," the statement read. "With the extreme deteriorating conditions and low visibility from smoke, Sgt. Fenley ran off the roadway and was engulfed in the fire."
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"Sgt. Fenley gave her life in the service of others and loved her community," the statement continued.
Fenley's sister-in-law, Anna Olvera, told NBC 5 that Fenley was driving to help an elderly woman, lost control of her vehicle, ended up in a field filled with fire and became engulfed.
At a press conference Friday, Governor Greg Abbott presented Olvera with a folded flag that had been hanging outside the state capitol.
"She was a good woman. She loved her community, she loved her job, and she died doing what she liked to do," Olvera said.
Fenley, 51, began her law enforcement career in 2003 as a patrol officer for the City of Gorman, where she grew up. She was later appointed as Gorman Chief of Police in January 2007. She served as Chief until 2013 when she became a deputy for Eastland County Sheriff's Office where she has worked since.
"I just want people to know how good of a person she was, literally always putting everyone first before herself."
Jon Fenley
Fenley leaves behind a husband, three sons -- Jon, Trent and Sheldon -- and two grandchildren.
"She didn't care who you were or what you did. She was always going to be there; Doesn't matter if you were 5 years old or 85 years old, she was going to take care of you," Jon Fenley told NBC 5.
A Facebook post by the Cisco Police Department described Fenley as a "special servant and an attribute to our profession."
"We will kneel in prayer for her family, friends and colleagues as they mourn. RIP dear friend, you will be missed," the police department's post read.
In Pictures: Aerial Views of the Eastland Complex of Wildfires Burning Friday
As of Friday evening, the Eastland Complex wildfire had burned more than 45,300 acres and was 15% contained, according to Texas A&M Forest Service.
Continuing Coverage: Eastern Complex Wildfires
Fenley is the only confirmed death in the aftermath of the Eastland County wildfires, local NBC station KTAB reported. No other injuries have been reported.
Meredith Yeomans contributed to this story.
