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A tragic fire early Monday morning in Thurston County claimed the life of Lyall Smith, a respected figure in the local firefighting community and the former fire chief of the McLane Black Lake Fire Department.
Smith, who was instrumental in the growth of the department and served as its first chief beginning in 1979, died in the very kind of emergency he had dedicated his life to preventing and fighting.
According to Fire Chief Leonard Johnson, fire crews were dispatched to the 3800 block of Sapp Road Southwest at 7:14 a.m. following reports of a fully involved residential structure fire.
When first responders arrived, they were met with an intense scene: a double-wide mobile home, its carport, and multiple vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Despite firefighters’ rapid response, the home was already consumed by fire, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
A report from the scene indicated that the homeowner was possibly still inside. After the flames were extinguished, firefighters entered the building and removed Lyall Smith from the structure, but he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
News of Smith’s death sent shockwaves through the Thurston County community. Olympia Firehouse 5, a local nonprofit organization focused on firefighting history and support, identified Smith in a somber social media tribute.
“Lyall Smith was more than a firefighter—he was a builder of institutions, a leader, and a mentor,” the organization wrote. “He helped lay the foundation for what the McLane Black Lake Fire Department is today.”
Smith’s distinguished career began in 1979 when he was hired as the very first fire chief of the then-newly formed McLane Black Lake Fire Department. Under his leadership, the department developed into a full-service agency known for its professionalism and commitment to community safety.
Smith was deeply respected not only for his technical expertise but for his unwavering dedication to the firefighters he trained and led over the years. Fire Chief Johnson acknowledged the heavy loss the department is feeling.
“This is a deeply personal tragedy for us. Chief Smith was a cornerstone of our department’s history. His death is heartbreaking,” Johnson said in a statement. “He served this community for decades and helped shape the department into what it is today.”
Multiple fire agencies responded to the incident, including Tumwater Fire Department, East Olympia Fire District 6, and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, reflecting the strong inter-agency cooperation that Smith himself championed during his time in service.
As investigators continue to determine the cause of the blaze, the loss of Lyall Smith is being mourned by the firefighting community, friends, and neighbors alike. Plans for a memorial or public tribute are expected to be announced in the coming days.
For those who knew him, Lyall Smith’s legacy will live on in the fire department he helped build, the firefighters he mentored, and the lives he touched through decades of public service. His passing is a solemn reminder of the dangers firefighters face—even in retirement—and the profound impact one individual can have on a community.
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