USFA: North Carolina On-Duty Death

 

 

Four members of the 145th Airlift Wing

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty deaths of four North Carolina Air National Guard members during a wildfire in South Dakota on July 1, 2012.

Four members of the North Carolina Air National Guard, members of 145th Airlift Wing, were killed and two seriously injured while working a fire attack mission in South Dakota on the White Draw fire near Edgemont. The firefighting crew of the Air Force C-130H3, carrying a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), had been battling wildfires in the days leading up to the crash, including those around Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Our condolences to the Family & Friends of Lieutenant Colonel Paul K. Mikeal, Major Joseph M. McCormick, Major Ryan S. David, Senior Master Sergeant Robert S. Cannon, the 145th Airlift Wing, and to all affected by their passing.

To date, 46 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.

 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)