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Pine-Strawberry Fire Chief Reported Missing While On A Hike Near Payson

Pine-Strawberry Fire District/Gila County Sheriff's Office

A search is underway in east-central Arizona for a fire chief who himself is a member of a search and rescue unit. The Gila County Sheriff's Office says the search for 73-year-old Gary Morris began Tuesday.

He was reported overdue from hiking the Arizona Trail in the Mazatzal Wilderness southwest of Payson.

Morris is fire chief for the Pine-Strawberry Fire District and a member of Tonto Rim Search and Rescue.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Morris was reported missing after he was overdue in calling for a ride after the scheduled completion of a solo hike.