Updated: August 11, 2017

COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF IT'S FORMER FIRE CHIEF TODAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT FORMER CHIEF HEMPHILL DIED AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER. HEMPHILL, WHO WAS 58, HAD BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT 30 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING IN JUNE. VISITATION FOR HEMPHILL WILL BE SUNDAY FROM 3 TO 8 AT OAKES AND NICHOLS FUNERAL HOME.

ON A BITTERSWEET NOTE, HOURS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, TY COBB WAS SWORN IN AS THE NEW FIRE CHIEF OF COLUMBIA. HE HAD BEEN ACTING CHIEF SINCE HEMPHILL'S RETIREMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE DAILY HERALD, COBB HAD WORKED 19 YEARS WITH HEMPHILL AND WAS SECOND CHOICE BY THE CITY WHEN HEMPHILL WAS APPOINTED. THE TWO WERE GREAT FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

COBB, A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, BRINGS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO THE JOB.