California Wildland Firefighter Dies in Line of Duty
California Wildland Firefighter Dies in Line of Duty
10 October 2007
published by cms.firehouse.com
USA — Matthew Richard Will, a heavy fire equipment operator with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), died this morning (Oct. 8) as the result of a bulldozer rollover in Monterey County yesterday afternoon.
Will, 30, was battling the Colorado Fire in Monterey County on Monday, October 8 when his bulldozer overturned. He was airlifted to San Jose Regional Medical Center for treatment and died this morning from injuries sustained in the rollover.
Will, a resident of Hollister, was assigned to Hollister Air Attack Base in the San Benito Monterey Unit. He started with CAL FIRE, then known as CDF, on May 19, 2003 as a heavy fire equipment operator. He recently graduated from the department’s fire academy in Ione.
Immediate survivors include his wife, Diana Will, his son Trysten, 10, and daughter Elsie, 8.
Additional information will be forthcoming from CAL FIRE as it develops.
