Georgia community shocked by firefighters’ deaths

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. — The Liberty County community expressed shock after Tennessee authorities regained the bodies of two missing firefighters.

The bodies of Liberty County firefighters Raegan Anderson and Chandler Kuhbander were discovered on June 30 in Cocke County, Tennessee, according to police reports. Hinesville Police DepartmentThe couple went missing on June 24.

Many members of the community shared the opinion that this was the worst possible outcome and wished it were different, WSAV reported.

“Everybody wanted the best outcome for him, for her, for both of them,” said an employee at Rodeo Mexican, a restaurant across the street from the fire station where Kuhbander and Anderson worked. “Everybody was shocked and devastated by what was happening. We just didn’t know how to react. Everybody was really sad.”

According to police reports, Anderson was suicidal and was arrested just days before he disappeared.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the lead agency in the investigation. While they have not confirmed the cause of death, they say the investigation is ongoing.