PITTSFIELD, Maine — Zach Noble's work as a first responder has left a lasting impression on his colleagues.
Noble was found dead on the track of Maine Central Institute Tuesday. His death is still under investigation.
"Man, he was very calm and collected at the scene. He always had his head on his shoulders. He was always looking out for everybody's safety to make sure everybody was okay—make sure we didn't get ourselves in bad situations," fellow Pittsfield firefighter Sascha Dunphy said. "And he almost always looked out for other people more than himself sometimes."
Dunphy and Noble's lockers were next to each other in the fire station.
"First time I saw Zach, I was a 14-year-old junior firefighter and he was in here rolling hose in his diapers putting us all to shame. He started really young as a firefighter as far as that goes," Dunphy said.
Noble's father was a firefighter.
Noble also worked as an EMT for Unity Ambulance Cooperation.
"He was an EMT for about a year but he could have fooled anyone. It was like he had been doing it his entire life. He had a natural aptitude for it," Kirk Burrows of Unity Ambulance Cooperation said.
Noble's work will be immortalized in the Unity Ambulance Cooperation building through his handyman work.
"He just finished up shelves in our supply room for holding a bunch of our equipment making it easier to find what we need and keep everything fresh in a way that makes sense and off the floor," Burrows said.
A scholarship fund has been created in memory of Noble. For more information or to donate, click here.