Marble Falls volunteer fire chief among missing in Burnet County

Marble Falls volunteer fire chief missing after floods

Burnet County Sheriff's Office is actively searching for two missing individuals, including the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief, Michael Phillips.

BURNET COUNTY, Texas - Burnet County Sheriff's Office is actively searching for two missing individuals, including the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief, Michael Phillips.

Out of five total individuals known to be missing, they have recovered the remains of three. 

The search and rescue operations are focused on three distinct areas off FM 1431 between Faith Academy and the Cow Creek area, with an additional search underway north of US Highway 281 near Hamilton Creek in Burnet.

Search for VFD Fire Chief Michael Phillips

Marble Falls Area VFD Fire Chief, Michael Phillips

What they're saying:

Past President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Gary Ludwig, said Phillips went missing early Saturday after being swept away by floodwaters while responding to a call in Cow Creek.. 

Chief Phillips was driving an emergency vehicle when he went missing early Saturday morning. 

The vehicle has been found. However, Phillips has not been found with the vehicle, or anywhere else.

17-year-old missing in Burnet County

The other person who is missing in Burnet County is a 17-year-old girl.

The girl's mom tells FOX that they were leaving for a family trip when she drove over a bridge that collapsed into Cow Creek.

The woman says she was in the van with her three daughters, her husband, her son and their child's friend at the time.

Everyone inside was able to make it to shore, except for the 17-year-old.

Search and rescue efforts are underway.

Additional agencies aiding Burnet County

Local perspective:

Burnet County Sheriff’s Office announced the following agencies are deploying a range of resources, including drones, helicopters, boats, search dogs, and ground teams, to aid in the search:

• Texas National Guard
• Texas Task Force 2
• Texas Parks and Wildlife
• Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
• Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• All local fire departments
• Local law enforcement agencies
• Llano County Sheriff's Office
• Austin-Travis County EMS

Recovered individual

What we know:

Preston Prince is the name of one person that has been recovered, but Burnet County Sheriff's Office is not providing details of others still missing or those that have been recovered due to pending verification of identities and next-of-kin family notifications.