The Marble Falls community held a vigil last Friday night to honor the Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters while responding to an emergency call along Cow Creek. Chief Phillips, a fixture in the community since 1995 and volunteer fire chief for the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department, is still missing, and the area is responding with both grief and gratitude for his service.
As reported by KHOU, Fire Captain Thomas Jacobs summed up the community's sorrow, saying, "This man, this legend left a hole in this world." Echoing a sentiment of bittersweet celebration, Former Assistant Chief George Tennison stated, "He went out doing what he loved to do." The local firehouse has become a makeshift memorial, where people have placed flowers and candles and where Phillips' own helmet sits poignantly on the dashboard of a fire truck.
Meanwhile, search efforts were met with obstacles due to continued severe weather conditions. Despite utilizing diversified search methods including boats, helicopters, and ATVs, the search has been hampered by damaged infrastructure. In a statement obtained by KHOU, officials stated that some low-water crossings and bridges still need repair before all areas are accessible to search teams.
According to CBS Austin, the search for Phillips was suspended last Friday but was set to continue through the weekend. "Specialist teams and equipment continue to deploy into the search area and work themselves to exhaustion or until nightfall in the effort to find him," reported the Burnet County Sheriff's Office. Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery praised Phillips' service, telling CBS Austin, "He had a serving heart. That's all there is to it. He was there when you needed him."
