The Kern County Fire Department announced Tuesday a 17-year veteran of the department died Sunday.
Firefighter Mark Schmidt, 61, battled cancer for the last several years, according to a KCFD news release. He last worked in a station at Fellows, a community near Taft.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time," the KCFD said in a news release.
KCFD Capt. Brian Falk died earlier this year while working at his assigned station in Fellows.