Wildland Firefighter Dies Battling Ariz. Blaze
Wildland Firefighter Dies Battling Ariz. Blaze
25 July 2011
published by www.firehouse.com
USA –A wildland firefighter in eastern Arizona was killed while battling a blaze over the weekend, according to KNXV-TV.
The unidentified firefighter was on the scene of the Diamond Fire in Whiteriver which was ignited Saturday by a lightning strike, Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency spokeswoman Lynn Polacca said.
The Fort Apache Helitack and Fort Apache Hotshots were flown to the fire located on a ridge top that is steep and rocky with dense woodlands.
The firefighter was unaccounted after crews returned to the command post.
Attempts to contact him via a handheld radio throughout the evening were unsuccessful.
The search continued throughout the night until the missing firefighter was found dead at approximately 6:18 a.m. Sunday.
