Updated: August 10, 2017

COLUMBIA IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF IT'S FORMER FIRE CHIEF.  THE COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON BY A FACEBOOK POST THAT FORMER CHIEF TOMMY HEMPHILL DIED AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER.  HEMPHILL HAD BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT 30 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING IN LATE JUNE.