photo by: Nick Krug

In this file photo from Aug. 24, 2017, Lawrence Fire Chief Mark Bradford is pictured at the old fire station near 19th and Massachusetts streets.

The chief of the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical department died Thursday, according to information from the city’s public affairs office late Thursday.

Chief Mark Bradford, 58, served the City of Lawrence for 17 years, according to city spokesman Porter Arneill. He joined the department as deputy fire chief in February 2001 and was promoted in November 2005 to fire chief.

In an email to the Journal-World, Arneill said that Bradford through the course of his career affected countless lives and leaves a lasting impact on the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence community.

City Manager Tom Markus said Bradford’s death was a devastating loss for the city and community.

“Mark was a valued member of the city family, of people that all work here and call this place home in many respects,” Markus said. “We spend a lot of time with each other, probably sometimes more time than we spend with our own families, so it is a devastating loss to us, and there isn’t much else you can say. We feel terrible for the loss to the family and they have our utmost sympathies.”

Bradford also served on the Lawrence school board. He was elected to the board in 2009 and served until 2013.

Markus said that Fire Division Chief Shaun Coffey has been appointed interim fire chief.

No cause of death was given.

The Journal-World will provide more details as they become available.