The town of Fuquay-Varina shared news that longtime fire chief Anthony Mauldin passed away on Sunday.
The loss of "Tony" Mauldin, "a well-loved and much-admired community member, is tremendous and leaves our Fuquay-Varina family heartbroken," a Faceboook post read. "We ask that you keep Tony’s family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time."
Mauldin first joined the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department in 1990 as a volunteer. He was appointed to the department's first career fire captain in 1993 and fire chief in 2000.
Earlier this year, the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department lost another firefighter, Summer Williams, who died after a fight with skin cancer in April.
“She just had that passion to be a firefighter and that’s what we loved about her," Mauldin said in April. "She is an inspiration for everyone, including all of us here."