SYRACUSE, Neb. -- A fire chief in Otoe County continues to fight for his life.

Syracuse Fire Chief Eric Fass was left with severe brain damage after an accident at the Otoe County Fairgrounds.

On Saturday, Fass was walking livestock from a building to a ring across the street when a car backfired and startled the cattle.

Pastor Andrew DeGolyer, a friend of Fass', told news partner 10/11Now that Fass tripped and hit his head on the curb while trying to stop the cow from running. DeGolyer said Fass is in a drug-induced coma.

Friends said Fass is known as a pillar of the community. He's been the fire chief since last year, in addition to working as a farmer outside of that. Syracuse firefighters say it's one of the hardest things to hit the station in a while.

DeGolyer says since the accident, the community continues to step up by doing everything from tending to his livestock to watching his two young boys so his wife can be at the hospital.