GA Battalion Chief Dies Attending Conference
By By G.G. Rigsby
Source Savannah Morning News, Ga.
Jan. 28--An Effingham County fire battalion chief died unexpectedly while attending a fire and rescue conference in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Matt Kicklighter, 45, died of apparent natural causes Friday night or Saturday morning, according to Effingham Fire Chief Clint Hodges.
"We're still in shock," said Hodges, who was among three people from Effingham County at the conference."He went to bed and didn't wake up."
Kicklighter had served with Springfield's fire department for 11 years before becoming battalion chief for the north division volunteers when the Springfield and Effingham fire departments merged in July 2015.
Hodges said Kicklighter spent his life in service of others and never met a stranger.
"He was very well liked," Hodges said. "He was a great friend and a great officer."
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