USFA LODD: Montana Firefighter On-Duty Death Notification 08.02.2017

On August 2, 2017  Firefighter Brent Witham, 29, was struck and killed by a falling tree while working on the Lolo Peak fire in Western Montana. Firefighter Witham was given CPR and other emergency medical aid by fellow firefighters and was then airlifted to a hospital in Missoula, Montana. Despite all efforts, Firefighter Witham passed away as a result of his injuries. Firefighter Brent Witham was a member of the Vista Grande Hotshot crew based in Idyllwild, California.

Our condolences to the Witham Family & Friends, U.S. Forest Service, and to all affected by Firefighter Brent Witham’s passing.

To date, 61 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2017. 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.) 

USFA LODD: Mississippi U.S. Forest Service Engineering Technician On-Duty Death Notification 03.30.2015

On March 30, 2015 at 1457hrs, Forest Service Engineering Technician Steve Cobb, 55, died of injuries sustained when a U.S. Forest Service helicopter, that he was in, crashed while monitoring a controlled burn of about 800 acres in the Desoto National Forest. Incident Location: Vicinity of Airey Tower and Martha Redmond roads, MS..

Our condolences to the Cobb Family & Friends, the United States Forest Service - National Forests in Mississippi, and to all affected by U.S. Forest Service Engineering Technician Steve Cobb’s passing.

To date, 22 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2015. 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.) 

USFA: Idaho BLM Smokejumper Killed LODD: On-Duty Death 09.27.2013

40-year-old Mark T. Urban of Boise died during training when something went wrong with the deployment of his parachute...

Firefighter Mark T. Urban, 40, a smokejumper for the Bureau of Land Management, on September 27, 2013 at 1230hrs, died from injuries sustained while performing a proficiency jump. Investigation into the fatal incident continues.According to Ken Frederick with the National Interagency Fire Center, Urban had been with the airborne firefighting program for 11 years. He was one of the main trainers, and even developed the rookie training program.NIFC spokesman Don Smurthwaite described Urban as the kind of smokejumper that others aspired to be. "He set the standard for all smokejumpers", he said, adding the comment about how he was the best liked on the team.Firefighter Mark T. Urban, 40, a smokejumper for the Bureau of Land Management, on September 27, 2013 at 1230hrs, died from injuries sustained while performing a proficiency jump. Investigation in the fatal incident continues.Mark T. Urban, originally from East Longmeadow, Mass., had been a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) smokejumper since 2003. Mark is survived by his wife Rebecca, his parents and his sister.Our condolences to the Urban Family &; Friends, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and to all affected Firefighter/Smokejumper Mark T. Urban's passing.To date, 81 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2013. 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.) 

USFA: New Mexico Fire Captain LODD: On-Duty Death 08.30.2013

Fire Captain Token Adams, 41, disappeared August 30, 2013 while riding an ATV and checking on a report of smoke in the Santa Fe National Forest. A week later after extensive search operations, Captain Adams was discovered by searchers deceased as a result of an accident involving the ATV.

Token Adams is survived by his wife, Heidi, 3 year old son, Tristan, his mother, a brother and sister. Token's wife Heidi is expecting their second childOur condolences to the Adams Family & Friends, the Santa Fe National Forest, and to all affected Fire Captain Token Adams' passing.To date,  79  firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2013. 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 notconclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USFA: Oregon Firefighter LODD: On-Duty Death 08.25.2013

Contract Firefighter Oscar Montano-Garcia, 50, on August 25, 2013 at 1800hrs., during operations on the Nabob fire in Northern California, succumbed to a medical condition the nature of which is still to be reported. The cause of death remains unknown at this time.

Our condolences to the Montano-Garcia Family & Friends, U.S. Forest Service, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and to all affected Firefighter Oscar Montano-Garcia's passing. 

     

To date,  77  firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2013. 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.)