Submitted by his sister
Assistant Chief Thomas ‘Tom’ Andersen was a firefighter at Surfside Beach Fire Department for 22 years. He died from a fatal heart attack while fighting a house fire. He was the first Surfside Beach firefighter to die in the line of duty since at least 1978.
Tom devoted his life to firefighting. He was‚ along with being Assistant Chief‚ an adjunct South Carolina Fire Academy instructor. He was instrumental in the creation of a local hazardous materials response team and served on that team as a Hazmat technician. He was a member of the Horry-Georgetown Fire Chiefs Association‚ a charter member of the Grand Strand Fire Inspectors Association‚ and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Aside from his work‚ Tom most enjoyed working on computers‚ fishing‚ and playing golf.
He is survived by his father‚ his brother‚ and his two sisters.
It’s been almost 5 years since Assistant Chief Tom’s passing and not a day goes by without someone mentioning his name. Assistant Chief Tom Andersen was a great leader, a memorable instructor and a great friend. Our department will always have a place in our hearts for his tireless devotion and dedication. Godspeed Brother!
– Lt. Tom Richards